The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 27, 1991, Page 9, Image 9
Soccer caj
By GREG STREHMEL
Staff Writer
At 5-foot-5, Tommy Loeber was
the smallest person on this past
season's Gamecock soccer squad.
However, the former team captain
and star defender's play was big
enough to land him a spot in the
world of professional soccer.
Loeber was selected in the first
round of the Major Indoor Soccer
League draft in Kansas City this
past Wednesday by the San Diego
Sockers. The defending champion
Sockers drafted Loeber with the final
(eighth) pick of the first round.
The defender had been participating
in the East-West Indoor
Ploooip cr\r\ncr?r??/1 Hw thn \4T5\T in
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which he was chosen as the Defensive
Star of the all-star game on
Feb. 12. Loeber tallied two assists
for the West squad in a 6-5 defeat.
Loeber had been an iron man
for the Gamecock kickers since arriving
in Columbia from Arlington,
Tex. in 1986. As a freshman he
stepped into USC's lineup and
played every minute of every game
except for part of an NCAA tourney
contest against Duke when he
suffered a concussion.
In the summer of 1987, Loeber
played on the U.S. Olympic Festival
South squad and he was looking
forward to a big sophomore
season when disaster struck. Playing
in a game in Texas, he was
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jtain Loeb
fouled from behind and a ligament h;
in his right knee was torn apart. gJ
Some people said he'd never re
walk again, much less be able to y<
run and play soccer. However, he is
hadn't become one of the top play- y
ers in the United States by being a A
quitter.
Loeber returned to USC in the h<
fall of 1987 and began the gruell- H
ing, painful, slow process of reha- w
bilitating his leg.
When the fall of 1988 rolled ar- tl
ound he was back on the field for c
the Gamecocks. That year Loeber s;
again played every minute of all 1
22 games and was a key figure in tl
leading USC all the way to the Fi- L
nal Four. tl
Again Loeber led the way in
1989, playing 22 straight games p
without a break. The Gamecocks c
advanced to the final eight that v
vMr h
J
In 1990 Loeber set a new career p
record by starting 87 games for a
USC. The old mark was held by
Billy McMullan with 79. I
Loeber has been a prime reason r
that USC's program has made I
giant leaps in getting national rec- (
ognition the past few years. f
"There's a huge sense of pride z
in what we've been able to do," I
Loeber said. "It's changed greatly
since I first came here. Now we t
are starting to get recognized on s
the street as soccer players and we >
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er picke
ave people wanting our au
raphs. That's definitely not I
ason we play, but it does rm
du feel that all of the hard wc
for a purpose, and that one c
ou might become an A
merican."
Loeber did earn All-Americ
3nors as a freshman and seni
e even scored ? somethi
hich is unusual for a defender.
"It was great getting a goal,
le best thing was it couldn't h;
ome at a better time," Loe
aid. "We were playing Erskine
988 and with just a minute
ley led 2-1.1 got a pass from J
,ove and headed it in the net to
lings up."
That goal forced an overti
eriod and the rejuvenated Gai
ocks exploded for a 5-2 win. 1
ms Loeber's one and only gi
mf hp. rlirl have, two assists I
tast year, one each in gar
gainst UCLA and Wake Forest
Defense, though, is rea
.oeber's trademark and he 1
ecognized as the Most Valu<
)efensive Player in the Met 1
Classic in 1988. Being a good
ensive player is to a large dej
i matter of pride, according
^oeber.
"You have to put aside wan
o push up and trying to score,'
;aid. "You have to concentrate
70ur man and you have to
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"hat IT ^
jk USC captain Tommy Loeber den
de_ selection in last week's MISL draft.
jree aware of what his strengths are. Is
! to he really fast or does he have a
good left foot? You have to evaluting
ate him in the first five minutes
' he and then you have to try to take
> on away his strong point,
be "If he has a strong left side you
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lonstrates the fine defensive
don't let him shoot with that
and if he's very fast, you srm
him and keep die ball away,
defender you must be espec
smart," he said.
Loeber was not only si
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i ability that earned him a first round
foot enough on the field to have the opother
portunity to play in a professional
As a
dally league, he had a 3.2 grade point
average and was a Dean's List student
this past spring. He plans to
nart graduate with an HRTA degree.
\?j ?
* 'li The United Way Is
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ie money."
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