Nov. 13, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Conference USA announced its 2007 all-conference first, second and third teams and postseason award winners for men's soccer today, as selected by the conference's nine head coaches. South Carolina had five student-athletes win a combined eight all-conference awards, led by Freshman of the Year Jimmy Maurer and Newcomer of the Year Tyler Ruthven. Sophomore Jeff Scannella earned first-team accolades, Maurer received second-team recognition, Ruthven and fellow defender Mark Wiltse were named to the third-team, and striker Blake Brettschneider joined Maurer on the all-freshman squad.

Maurer becomes the Gamecocks' third-straight C-USA Freshman of the Year. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native also earned second-team all-conference and all-freshman accolades. Maurer played more than 755 minutes in goal against C-USA teams and posted a 0.83 goals against average. He also recorded two shutouts in conference play and allowed just seven goals in league action. During the regular season, Maurer garnered adidas Gamecock Classic Defensive MVP and Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honors.

A sophomore transfer from the University of San Francisco, Ruthven earned C-USA Newcomer of the Year honors as a key member of a Gamecock defense that allowed a conference-low seven goals this year. Ruthven also earned third-team honors in his first season at South Carolina.

Scannella, the 2006 C-USA Freshman of the Year, earned a place on the first-team at the midfield position as a sophomore. He paced the Gamecock offense this season, posting a team-best six goals, including four during the conference campaign. Finding his groove during the month of October, the Alpharetta, Ga., native began the C-USA season scoring the game winner at UAB. He followed with goals at FIU and against SMU and Marshall. His goal against the Thundering Herd was also a game-winning tally, securing head coach Mark Berson's 400th win at the helm of the Gamecock program.

Joining Ruthven on the third team was Wiltse. He was part of a strong defensive line that allowed a conference-low seven goals this season. The Belle Meade, N.J., native also contributed on the offensive end of the pitch, adding two assists during conference play.

All nine schools were represented on the All-Freshman Team, including Maurer and classmate Brettschneider. Carolina was one of two schools (Tulsa) to place two freshmen on the team. Brettschneider turned in a successful rookie regular season, scoring a total of four goals while contributing four assists for USC. The Lilburn, Ga., native tallied two goals in league play. His score against FIU proved to be the game winner, while he also contributed the lone goal in USC's 1-1 tie at Memphis.

The awards were announced one day before the start of the 13th Annual C-USA Championship, which is scheduled for Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 14-18, at West Campus Field on the campus of UAB. South Carolina earned the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 seed Memphis on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

2007 C-USA MEN'S SOCCER AWARDS
Player of the Year
Bruno Guarda, MF, SMU

Defensive Player of the Year
Barry Rice, D, Kentucky

Freshman of the Year
Jimmy Maurer, GK, South Carolina

Newcomer of the Year
Tyler Ruthven, D, South Carolina

Coach of the Year
Tom McIntosh, Tulsa

All-Conference First Team
F: Juan Guerra, Florida International
F: Dejan Jakovic, UAB
F: Jose Parada, Tulsa
MF: Eric DeFreitas, Tulsa
MF: Bruno Guarda, SMU
MF: Jeff Scannella, South Carolina
MF: Ben Shuleva, SMU
D: Adrian Chevannes, SMU
D: Chris Clements, Tulsa
D: Barry Rice, Kentucky
GK: Dominic Cervi, Tulsa

All-Conference Second Team
F: Jared Britcher, Memphis
F: Ryan Roushandel, UCF
F: Dane Saintus, SMU
MF: Sterling Flounder, Marshall
MF: Trey Gregory, UAB
MF: Adam Montgomery, Memphis
MF: Masumi Turnbull, Kentucky
D: Michael Coburn, Memphis
D: Jeff Lenix, Marshall
D: Ryan Mirsky, SMU
GK: Jimmy Maurer, South Carolina

All-Conference Third Team
F: Eric Burkholder, Tulsa
F: Todd Goddard, Tulsa
F: Aaron Swanson, Kentucky
MF: Scott Corbin, SMU
MF: John Daniele, Marshall
MF: Sean Goulding, Memphis
MF: Jeff Harwell, SMU
D: Tyler Ruthven, South Carolina
D: Raoul Voss, Florida International
D: Mark Wiltse, South Carolina
GK: Steve Sandbo, SMU

All-Freshman Team
Steven Cabas, F, Florida International
C.J. Tappel, MF, Kentucky
Sammy Boateng, MF, Marshall
Ryan Ruble, MF, Memphis
Chad Bauman, D, SMU
Jimmy Maurer, GK, South Carolina
Blake Brettschneider, F, South Carolina
Chris Taylor, Tulsa
Zach Nulisch, MF, Tulsa
Curtis Ushedo, D, UAB
Dustin McCarty, MF, UCF