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USC delivers crowd-pleaser vs. Clemson
Brettschneider, Arthur lead Gamecocks to shutout in front of record audience
Written by DAVE WARD
Special to the State
Posted on 08.30.08
CommentsA record crowd was on hand Friday night at Stone Stadium to watch the USC Gamecocks defeat the Clemson Tigers 2-0.
The USC victory, witnessed by an announced crowd of 6,102, largest in USC soccer history, was the season opener for both teams and second victory in a row for the Gamecocks against their instate rivals.
Blake Brettschneider and Sam Arthur led the offensive charge for the Gamecocks, with each finding the net against Tiger goal keeper, Joseph Bendik. The two sophomores seemed to be in synch offensively all evening, with each also assisting on the other’s goal.
Both team’s defenses played well for most of the evening, with the Tigers managing only three shots on goal against the Gamecocks sophomore goalie, Jimmy Mauer.
“Allowing just three shots against Clemson is a good compliment to our guys,” South Carolina head coach Mark Berson said. “Our team has worked very hard and they really believe in our system. I thought we played solid and very well defensively. We got some really good chances on the offensive end tonight. Clemson is a good team, it’s a rivalry game and I was really proud of the overall performance tonight.”
Mauer , the 2007 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, had an easy night in the goal and recorded the sixth shutout of his career.
The Gamecocks recorded nine shots on Bendik, with six of those coming in the second period of the match.
“We didn’t play poorly in the first half,” said Clemson coach Trevor Adair. “South Carolina did a great job of plugging up the middle, and we didn’t go wide with the ball. We just couldn’t get in an attack rhythm in the first half.”
The score was tied at zero going into the 27th minute of the match, but Brettschneider found Arthur streaking to the right side of the Tiger’s net. Arthur dribbled the ball around a Tiger player, waited for Bendik to set up, and fired a shot past him into the corner of the goal.
The goal would end up being all the Gamecocks would need on the evening, but Arthur returned the favor in the 81st minute. Sophomore Mike Lindsay was able to head the ball out of a crowd near the Tiger’s goal towards Arthur, who passed it to Brettschneider. Brettschneider blasted a kick around the diving goalie, adding an insurance goal for the Gamecocks (1-0).
“Give South Carolina a lot of credit,” Adair said. “They are a veteran team.”
The victory was the 414th for USC coach Mark Berson, who is entering his 31st year at the helm for USC.
USC hosts Presbyterian College in their next game on Tuesday night at 7p.m.
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