Nov. 13, 2008

DALLAS, Texas - The fifth-seeded Gamecock men's soccer team (8-5-5) is set to face top-seeded and No. 7 Tulsa (14-3-2) in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals on Friday. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m. ET at Westcott Field. South Carolina tied the Golden Hurricane during the regular season, 0-0, preventing Tulsa's perfect run in league play. Tulsa leads the all-time series between the two schools with a slight 3-2-1 upperhand. Second-seeded Kentucky and six-seeded UCF will play in the other semifinal match at 6 p.m. ET.

LAST TIME OUT
Three different Gamecock goal scorers led the fifth-seeded South Carolina men's soccer team past fourth-seeded SMU, 3-0, in the quarterfinal round of the C-USA Tournament on Wednesday night in Dallas at Westcott Field. South Carolina improved to 8-5-5 for the year, while the tournament host Mustangs fell to 10-6-2 and were eliminated from the postseason event. Sophomore striker Blake Brettschneider netted the game-winner for Carolina, while junior forward Bryan Lowder and sophomore striker Sam Arthur each contributed one goal in the victory. South Carolina goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer collected four saves to earn his league-leading ninth shutout of the season.

ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM ACCOLADES
South Carolina sophomore striker Sam Arthur and sophomore goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer were selected to the eleven-member 2008 Conference USA All-Academic Team, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. The 2008 squad consists of four defenders, five midfielders, one forward and one goalkeeper.

EIGHT GAMECOCKS EARN ALL-C-USA AWARDS

Conference USA announced its 2008 all-conference first, second and third teams, all-freshman team and postseason award winners for men's soccer on Tuesday, as selected by the conference's nine head coaches. Eight South Carolina student-athletes garnered awards, as sophomore strikers Sam Arthur and Blake Brettschneider were selected to the first team, while junior midfielder Jeff Scannella earned second-team honors alongside junior defender Tyler Ruthven and sophomore goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer. Junior defender Mark Wiltse earned third-team honors and freshman midfielders David MacVane and Stephen Morrissey were selected to the all-freshman squad.

SOUTH CAROLINA IN C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP

Carolina has advanced to the C-USA Tournament each of its four years competing in the league, earning an overall record of 4-2-1. South Carolina collected the 2005 C-USA Tournament title by defeating Kentucky via PK's in the quarterfinal round, Memphis in the semifinals and Tulsa in the championship game. South Carolina has played Tulsa twice in the C-USA Tournament prior to Friday's match (2005, 2007).