Sept. 28, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

Two Gamecocks earned awards on Monday after helping South Carolina down two top-10 teams during the week. Sophomore goalkeeper William Pyle garnered Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week accolades, while junior midfielder Danny Deakin took a spot on the College Soccer News Team of the Week.

Meanwhile, South Carolina came in at No. 9 in the first RPI release of 2015 from the NCAA. Outlets Top Drawer Soccer (No. 17) and College Soccer News (No. 18) both put the Gamecocks in the top 20 after last week’s results.

Pyle has gone 3-0 since becoming South Carolina’s starting goalkeeper, including last week’s wins over No. 8 Elon and No. 7 New Mexico. He stopped six shots in the two matches combined, leading the Gamecocks to consecutive wins over top-10 foes for the second time in program history.

Deakin collected two goals in the victory over the eighth-ranked Phoenix, including the game-winner on a free kick in the 71st minute. He also helped the Gamecocks play a great contest against the seventh-ranked Lobos in the overtime victory.

Pyle earns the Gamecocks’ 18th Defensive Player of the Week honor from C-USA and the first in 2015. Deakin’s the first Gamecock on the College Soccer News Team of the Week this season and is the 11th to garner a mention

South Carolina continues C-USA play on Friday at Marshall. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Hoops Family Field.