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& * ^m? ii ' -j9k flHraynuHiMHpp Soccer By DENNIS SWITZER sun wnifr With the season-opener just a few days away, USC Head Soccer Coach Mark Berson is enthusiastic about the upcoming season, but feels the Gamecocks will be tested early in the year. The varsity squad opens Friday against Wheaton in the Carolina Invitational and returns to the field Saturday against SIUEdwardsviile, with both games scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Berson feels that the 1981 schedule is "very demanding" with the first four games against very tough opponents. He believes that Wheaton is one of the top teams in NCAA Division 3 while SIU-Edwardsville, the 1979 national champions, is always a "powerhouse nationally." The Gamecocks then go on the road to play Rhode Island and Connecticut, who could finish in thp ton 1ft along with SIU-Edwardsville according to Berson. But Berson is looking forward to the upcoming season with a nucleus of good, experienced players returning. Nineteen Jettermen and 9 starters return from last year's 12-5-2 team. Berson also said that this year was "the most enthusiastic preseason training that we've ever had." The only position Berson feels he has a lack of experience is goalkeeper. I^ast year's goalkeeper, Glenn Thompson, suf fered a herniated disk last year and has not fully recovered. Thompson may be redshir ted. To take his place Berson recruited two tenders, who are battling for the starting job. Keith Mallon, a transfer from Meramec Community College in St. Louis, had 10 shutouts in an 18-3 sophomore year. Freshman Chris Pfaeffle finished two seasons at Northport, (N.Y.) High with a 31 kkS^BP* ^^^sRJp ^W' ^3 ?"-'-t -" A Wbm K S" d*. smm 2-3 record. Berson feels both are doing a good job but said, "we are short on experience in the goal and that will be a key factor." On offense, the Gamecocks will be returning last year's leading scorer Dave Goodchild, who finished the season with 13 goals and 4 assists, along with sophomore Tom Norton, who Berson believes will be "a definite scoring threat". Berson also predicts that sophomore Mike Menhart will be a good player at one of the wing positions. r."? : ...:u u? *i.i.?.. t? iu:? EjA^ci iciicc win uc uic Rcy ldtiui iu una year's defense, according to Berson. He says the team is better defensively than last year with three-year letterman and team captain John Nitardy returning as the heart of the defense. Eric Hawkes at sweeper should help to anchor the defense along with a five-way battle among experienced players for two outside positions that Berson is watching very closely. The three-year head coach believes that this year's schedule is very tough, but points out that last year's schedule "was pretty rough itself." With his improved team Rprsnn hnnes to imnrov? on last vear's ? 1 ? 1 * ? mark. The Gamecocks finished last season with a six-game win streak that included a 2-0 victory over Hartwick, who made it to the NCAA Final Four. Berson is looking for fan support to help him out this year. Over the past three years the Gamecock's home record at the "Graveyard" is 24-3, with all three losses coming against nationally-ranked opponents. 4<I rodlli; ii/miM Ills** f n m o thit? rilo/?a a M. A V/UIIJ VYUUIU IU 111C4 f\V/ IIIIO piUVV U tough place to play,'' said Berson. "We've had good fan support in the past, but we need great support this year," he added. Admission is free to all home games. ii! i Coach Mark Berscjii is looking for a good season in 1981. ^ ^ p inside?? ??, I TODAY1 TOMORROW | Golf, p. 14 special tamon ^ u