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U^IdUU 1 despite hars D.I DU>k>Ml Mowo.o Wf 1?IV!??1M IWIVJVIV Gamecock Staff WHter Facing one of the toughest schedules in the South, USC's soccer team will kick off the start of the 1979 season next Tuesday, Sept. 11 versus Erskine, the first of five consecutive home games. The Gamecocks, in only their second season of varsity competition, will be presented with a stiff challenge to better this past year's fine 13-3-1 mark. r? J ...in i? : ?!?* v^uav-u inaiA dcisuii s squttu wiu w ill ttCUUll UgaillSl 12 teams that were involved in post-season play a year ago. In addition, five of those teams placed in the season's final top twenty poll, and three of the teams (Indiana, Connecticut and Clemson) were champions in their respective regions. "We have a vastly improved team over last season," assessed Berson. "Each of our players and coaches has worked hard over the summer to be ready for the start of the season." BERSON'S TEAM finished as the seventh ranked team in the South and at one time was ranked as high as fourth. But Berson is striving to have the Gamecocks gain more than just the South's attention* "Our goal this year is to establish ourselves as a regional and national power and to secure a bid to the NCAA tournament," he said. The Gamecocks came very close to receiving a bid last year in tneir initial season, and tne nucleus of that club has returned for another shot at the playoffs. USC's top five scorers from 1978 are all returning as seniors. Led by Brian Winstead (18 goals, 12 assists), Eddie Fuchs (23 points) and Ed Muehlheausler (25 points), the team boasts a potent scoring unit which averaged 3.9 goals a contest last year. Berson is confident of the offense's ability to put the ball in the net. "We have all our top scorers back, and we have some freshmen Dushinsz for startinc * k n eels over im^ - % mh^8mb8P^ M improvement ? 111 m scneaiiie positions. We feel very comfortable with our scoring attack." The coach noted that the team has a larger number of quality players this year, allowing him to be able to give any injured players more time to recover when injuries occur. The addition of these players has also given Berson some additional maneuverability. For example, the coach indicated that Rich Wurdack would be freed from his defensive position to take up anchor as a midfielder. SENIOR PAUL TURIN, a 14top class collegiate keeper" according to Berson, will again be in the nets when the season opens. Turin allowed only 11 goals in 17 games last season and recorded ten shutouts. Backing up Turin are Joel Schiedeke and David Whittington. Berson is looking for either Schmiedeke or Whittington to nail down the number two spot, although he has not made a decision on who it will be yet. "The team has had a week of three a day workouts behind them, and we look very good at this point," said tne coach. He was also happy with the return to form of two injured players from last year. "JIM HEILICH broke his leg in three places last October, and he is 100 percent. That is a credit to his hard work and determination. Eddie Fuchs had knee surgery twice on the same knee, and he is fully recovered. He is one of the toughest competitors in college soccer. Heilich's and Fuchs' hard work exemplifies this team's spirit." The Gamecocks will tune up for their home opener with a scrimmage on Saturday at 5 p.m. and again on Sunday at 11 a.m. The opposition will be provided by Meramec Community College, a junior college in St. Louis, Mo. where seven Gamecock players played before moving on to USC. The contest will be held at the USC soccer field, located at Heyward and Sumter streets. Admissioi\is free. '\0 ^ .. i 'NjL*' ' ' m ^ tffff g$..t?0* Bp|=11||m WHS; *?^ W%g2jf^K * . -K-PS^Br JW \ Ipr *'$&: fi: :J^^^H|HH|^F|^fS^B ra H^ns ti^i^MIIMB A-' ?-^i^Hki? HB PBr rgnffff^iSyrTBnffSBrMff p?y? towii noMiCOCK I y----sr-*--. I ;,"-''"'V,' 1 '''""' ^ I mmm jj^^< f ' lEwh. ^BH||^Qp> --VK ..> ^iik. jdnwam | ^ m |RyJg| Bjk W m l^^lfilB^HllM^Mim W^i ',s -J "* , v ' , .y-.y-'j r. USC soccer coach Mark Berson points dir^^ons for another successful season. His squad finished with a 13-3-1 record a year ago. | 1979 Soccer Schedule \ SEPTEMBER 11 ERSKINE . 4 p.m. 14 CONNECTICUT 4 p.m. 16 UNC - WILMINGTON 2 p.m. 19 WINTHROP 4 p.m. ! 23 GEORGIA STATE 2 D.m. j 28 at East Carolina j OCTOBER 13 at Charleston 8 EMORY 4 p.m. 10 at Francis Marion 1 a ?^ i _ ? I it ai v/iaiiiauii [J.in. 19 at Wheaton Tournament 20 at Wheaton Tournament 24 at Furman 3 p.m. \ 28 APPALACHIAN STATE 2 p.m. 30 WESTERN CAROLINA 3 p.m. NOVEMBER 3 at Rollins 5 at Central Florida 8 BAPTIST 3 p.m. Columbia booster club wants USC action (AP) ? A Carolina basketball booster club has called on the school's administration and trustees to give "full and fair consideration" to proposed affifliation with the Metro-7 Conference. FURMAN WINGATE, president of the Columbia Tip-Off Club, said the club was promised "by men of honor and high position" at USC that the invitation from Metro-7 would be put to a vote by the trustees. The club supports Metro-7 affiliation. USC President James B. Holderman has announced that the | university is seeking to join a "comprehensive" conference. Metro-7, which does not include football, would be ruled out under Holderman's dictum. The university, independent since withdrawing from the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1971, has received an invitation only from Metro-7. I "WE FEEL IT is incumbent upon the board to allow Larry Albus, commissioner of the Metro-7, to appear before the Athletic Committee | and the full board to answer any questions about the Metro-7/' Wingate I said Wednesday. 1 The trustees' next scheduled meeting is Sept. 15. I >