Sept. 1, 2009
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s soccer team (1-0) defeated Charlotte (0-1) by a 3-1 margin in the season opener for both schools on Tuesday evening at Stone Stadium. South Carolina improves to 12-4-3 all-time against the 49ers.
Along with classmate Blake Brettschneider, junior forward Sam Arthur led the Gamecock attack with two shots and one goal each, while sophomore midfielder Stephen Morrissey and senior midfielder Jeff Scannella each added one shot in the game. Additionally, Scannella picked up his first assist of the season in the Carolina victory.
South Carolina netminder Jimmy Maurer collected four saves in net, while allowing just one goal to the 49ers offense. Charlotte counterpart David Martin allowed three goals, while earning one save. Patrick Eavenson of the 49ers played the final five minutes in net for Charlotte.
Adam Gross led the Charlotte attack with five shots, including the lone 49ers goal of the match. Andrew Cuero, Jason Hawes and T.J. Beaulieu each added two shots.
After back and forth play to start the match, Arthur narrowly missed a one-time volley just inside the 18-yard box on a long punt by Maurer from the Gamecock defensive third. The shot hit the cross bar and deflected away from the Charlotte net.
The Gamecock offense caught fire late in the first half. With 16 minutes remaining in the opening set, Scannella collected a ball at midfield and flew by two Charlotte defenders, dribbling to the far side six-yard box before connecting with Brettschneider who hit a perfect shot to the far-side netting for the 1-0 Gamecock upperhand.
Maurer collected a crucial save with eight minutes left in the first half to send Carolina into halftime with the lead.
A Charlotte own goal in the 50th minute pushed the Carolina lead to 2-0 and eight minutes later, Arthur scored for a 3-0 Carolina upperhand.
The 49ers attacked the Gamecock goal for the remainder of the second half and drew a corner kick with 13 minutes remaining in the match. Gross collected a deflection off the corner kick just outside the six-yard box and sent a shot past Maurer into the net for Charlotte’s lone goal of the evening.
South Carolina travels to the upstate to face archrival Clemson on Friday at 7 p.m.
