2008 South Carolina Gamecocks Soccer
South Carolina Gamecocks Soccer is rather unique, especially in the SEC, because it has both a men's and women's team. Both have enjoyed winning seasons for several years, but still cannot seem to make it big in the NCAA arena. The women have made fourteen appearances in NCAA tournaments and one showing at the SEC Tournament in 2002. Since beginning play in 1978, the men's team has made seventeen appearances in NCAA tournaments and one appearance at the Conference USA Tournament in 2005.
The 2008 Lady Soccer Gamecocks have six returning starters from last year's team. In fact they have 12 letter winners from the last season's team, that made it to the NCAA Tournament (losing in the first round).
South Carolina is off to a good start this season with a winning record and second only to Florida in the SEC East. The Lady Gamecocks are ranked just outside of the Top 25 right now, but, we think, before the year is out, they will be in the Top 25.
Danila Monteiro is the team's only returning senior and is a co-captain along with juniors Blakely Mattern and Kim Miller. Mattern is a 2008 Preseason All-SEC selection after earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year and All-America honors last season as a sophomore.
Miller started every game for the Gamecocks last season and was an SEC All-Tournament selection. Carolina also returns starters Shannon Bigbie, Samantha Diaz-Matosas, Brittiny Rhoades and Brooke Jacobs. Kim Miller is the rock of the midfield for Gamecocks this year.
Soccer Buzz magazine ranks the Gamecocks 2008 signing class as the 24th-best recruiting class in the nation. The Gamecocks also ranked sixth in the 54-team Southeast region and hauled in the third best class of all Southeastern Conference teams.
We think South Carolina's Womens' Soccer team will end up second to Florida in the SEC East. The Lady Gamecocks are better than LSU (who will likely win the SEC West), but we won't say that yet. So, we rank them #3 overall in the SEC. We think they'll win a couple games in the 2008 NCAA Soccer Tournament.
Discussion of the 2007 team: The University of South Carolina Lady Gamecocks had an impressive season last year with an 11-6-5 record and the second most wins in the SEC. They also made it to the semi-finals in the SEC Tournament and ranked sixth in the Southeast Region according to NSCAA rankings.
The ladies were undefeated at home, a feat that, before last year, had never been accomplished in school history. Several USC Lady Gamecocks earned special recognition, with three players earning All-SEC honors as well as All-Region selections.
With nine returning starters and the fourth best recruiting class in the SEC, South Carolina soccer has a great shot at a winning season this year.
Sophomore All-American Blakely Mattern, who was selected to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2006, will no doubt be a key player this season. Senior Darcel Mollon will be returning to the team this year after sitting out in 2006 due to injuries. If Mollon can live up to her impressive 2005 stats, she may play a large role in South Carolina's success.
The Lady Gamecocks' head coach Shelley Smith has job security for a while after signing a new contract that will keep her there another five years. Smith, who has been with the USC for seven seasons, gained recognition as a skilled coach after leading last year's team to a semi-final appearance in the SEC Tournament and having an overall winning season.
South Carolina soccer is strong and will do well. But, the SEC East is tough. We predict South Carolina's Women's team will finish 5th in the SEC East and just miss SEC and NCAA tournament bids.
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2007 South Carolina Gamecocks Soccer Schedule (Women's):
September 1 North Carolina Away
September 3 East Tennessee Home
September 7 UC Davis Away
September 9 UNLV Away
September 12 Winthrop Home
September 14 Charlotte Away
September 16 Furman Away
September 21 Clemson Away
September 23 Marshall Home
September 27 Tennessee Away
September 30 Georgia Away
October 5 Kentucky Home
October 7 Vanderbilt Home
October 12 MS State Away
October 14 Mississippi Away
October 19 Alabama Home
October 21 Auburn Home
October 25 LSU Away
October 28 Arkansas Home
November 2 Florida Away
November 7 SEC Tournament TBA
November 9 SEC Tournament TBA
November 11 SEC Tournament TBA
2007 South Carolina Gamecocks Soccer Roster (Women's):
Lindsay Thorstenson GK
Honour Trosper GK
Laura Armstrong GK
Kimmy Gillespie D
Kim Miller MF
Alison Bagley MF
Blakely Mattern D
Danila Monteirro F/MF
Ashley Kirk MF
Darcel Mollon F
Courtney Cobbs F/MF
Shannon Bigbie MF/D
Erin Sullivan MF
Jessica Thomas D
Annie Galloway MF
Lindsay Small D
Maggie Blackwell D
Brittiny Rhoades D/MF
Kacie Brewer MF/D
Monica Hogan D/MF
Samantha Diaz-Matosas F
Aly Shattis MF
Brooke Jacobs F
Mollie Patton GK
South Carolina Gamecocks Soccer - the Men's version - had a nice record last year with an 11-5-1. They made it to the first round of the Conference USA Tournament only to be defeated by UAB. But, they were ranked 25th nationally by Soccer Times. They play in Conference USA because, of course, the Southeastern Conference does not have a men's soccer league.
With only four returning starters, the men of USC are going to have to work hard to pull off another winning season. The men are hoping to make up for their losses with the addition of eleven incoming freshmen who consist of region team players, All-Americans, and Elite Soccer Program participants.
The men's team has also received recognition with new recruit Jimmy Maurer being featured in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated. Maurer was featured in a section called "Faces in the Crowd," which showcased some of the best up and coming talent in college sports.
Sam Arthur, who is a member of the Under-18 U.S. National team, is expected to be a big asset at forward. Another new addition will be Tyler Ruthven, a transfer student from the University of San Francisco, who will play defender. Their team is young and will face major transitions, but the men of the University of South Carolina should have a successful season; although, it is unlikely they will be able to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
2007 South Carolina Gamecocks Soccer Schedule (Men's):
August 31 Clemson Away
September 4 Presbyterian Home
September 7 Connecticut Away
September 8 USF Home
September 11 Wofford Home
September 14 Longwood Home
September 16 Lipscomb Home
September 19 Duke Away
September 23 Alabama A &M Home
September 29 UAB Away
October 3 Davidson Away
October 7 Florida International Away
October 13 Tulsa Home
October 20 Memphis Away
October 24 SMU Home Home
October 27 Marshall Home
November 4 UCF Away
November 9 Kentucky Home
2007 South Carolina Gamecocks Soccer Roster (Men's):
Ryan Jenkins GK
Spencer Lewis MF
Ramon Paracat MF/D
Daniel Upchurch D
Cory Lewis MF
Jeff Gross MF
Jeff Scannella D/MF
Matt King MF/D
Mark Wiltse MF/D
Geoff del Forn GK
J.D. Moon MF
David Smith MF
Kevan Hawkins MF/F
Brennan Williams D/MF
Schuyler Reardon F
Mario Burstein MF/D
Matt Mierley GK
Sam Roca D
Paddy Flynn MF
Matt Winstead
Trey Foster MF
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