The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 20, 1996, Page 10, Image 10
10
Lady Gameco
maiAVkiE tin cunnc
Asst. Sporis Editor
As ESPN's Stuart Scott would sky, the Lady
Gamecock volleyball team was as cool as the other
side of the pillow against Clemson Wednesday night,
sweeping the Tigers 3-0.
In front of a record crowd of 1,284, Carolina defeated
the Tigers 15-13,15-5 and 15-11, improving its record
to 9-3. USC Head Coach Kim Hudson was impressed
with an all-around team effort.
"My assistant ooaches did a phenomenal job scouting
Clemson, and the team did an very good job executing
the scout report," Hudson said.
The win was Carolina's second in a row against
the Tigers. Last year's shutout at Clemson was USCs
first victory against the in-state rivals since 1991.
Hie Lady Gamecocks fell behind in the first game
11-6, and then stormed back to tie it at 11 before
taking the victory.
Hie second game was all Carolina. Hie team went
up 9-3 on a monstrous Heather Larkin kill that
Women's soccer n
BRYAN JOHNSTON Asst. Sports Editor
Wednesday was a good day to be a Gamecock, but
not a Clemson Tiger fen. First,
the volleyball team swept the gS
Tigers in three games. The
Gamecocks were favored going
into the match, so it was not a big surprise.
But less then an hour later, the Lady Gamecock
soccer team pulled off a stunning upset of the ninthranked
Tigers at the new Eugene E. Stone HI Stadium
at the Graveyard, 3-2.
"It puts us on the map," USC coach Sue Kelly said
of the win. "If s an emotional game, and we played
with a lot of heart. We were looking for a turnaround
with some of the heart breakers we've had."
Carolina (2-4) put the first score on the board 25:13
into the game when Charleston native Jennie Ondo
scored her seventh goal of the year.
Men's soccer get
The men's soccer team Southern,
ended their three game i^efin
losing streak with a 5-0 Gamecodcs
victory over Charleston 9t0 f- J.ut
S.?-Mh?[.B ,U.".'V|M"ty '"I Southern*
night. Clint Mathis scored therefs.
his first two goals of the The g
season In the game. scored, or
JEFF BLODOETT Staff Writer whenK
1???? Larusson
A day after the women's team had left in the
their most important win ever, a 3-2 away on ar
victory over arch enemy and nationally- taken awa
ranked Clemson, the men's soccer team The Gi
got their most important victory of the on in the s<
season; their first. offense, w
A 5-0 drubbing of Charleston goalsin3g
Pre-season All-/
fiirn around for
BEN HLLOW Staff Writer
Sophomore soccer player Tony Soto says he's not
into statistics.
Judging from the Dallas, Texas, native's list of
accolades, however, someone out there has taken a
keen interest in his.
A Parade and Umbro All-American and the Texas
and Southwest Player if the Year his senior year in
high school, Soto was named a preseason All-American
for the 1996 season by Soccer America, along with
teammate Clint Mathis. After a 1995 stint that saw
Soto garner Freshman All-America and honorable
mention All-America honors at USC, onewould think
that kind of award would be warranted.
Three games into this season though, the 5' 11",
180 pound sweeper is not so sure.
"(The preseason All-America award) was a great
honor that I was not really expecting,'' Soto said. "The
only bad thing is that I feel I have not done the honor
justice yet."'
Whether that has anything to do with USCs slow
start (the Gamecocks are 0-3 going into Thursday's
home match against Charleston Southern) Soto would
not say. But he did stress that no one is getting too
unnerved yet.
"We have played, at times, very well," Soto said.
"It's just that we have mental lapses or we have a
breakdown, and unfortunately they score on all their
chances. I think it's a real good motivator. Even the
intensity at practice, ifs not a panic intensity, but ifs
time to go to work."
Appropriate words, considering the opinion of
Mark Beron, USC's 18- year, and only, men's soccer
head coach. Before the start of the season, he said the
SF
ick volleyball
ricocheted off a Clemson player, sailed over the net
and completely over the Carolina team, and landed
out of bounds. That momentum held up for a 10-point
win.
1.1 111. iL' J *1.1- _ r? ft
i^iemson men upenea me mira game wun a
lead Hudson said the team was taken by,surprise by
some changes the Tigers made, and then adjusted to
them. Carolina battled back, took the lead 12-11 on
a Fernanda Laires kill, and then won the match.
The fan support was a topic discussed by both
Hudson and players.
"It's a huge home court advantage," Hudson said.
"You can't even hear yourself think. If s a coaching
nightmare as far as being an opponent."
Senior Kelly Morrow was thankful for the large
turnout.
"The fan support was wonderful," Morrow said.
"It was awesome to see all the people there."
The new facility did get loud at times in appreciation
of Carolina's effort. One crazed group of fans even
wore volleyballs on their heads and held up comical
ets first upset over
The freshman recovered a ball that bounced off a
Clemson player 30 yards out, then she broke in alone
down the side and beat Lady Tiger goalkeeper Suzanne
Putnam to the lower left post.
Clemson responded just 57 seconds later when
Beth Keller kicked a perfectly placed direct kick from
25 yards out to the upper-middle of the net.
The two teams took a 1-1 tie into half-time and
played the second half scoreless until the 68 minute
mark. It was then when Lexi Tourtellotte collected
an Ondo pass from a Happy Payne free kick about 18
yards out on the left side of the goalkeeper's box and
netted the ball to the upper-right corner.
"I was sitting on top of the 18 and the ball bounced
off a Clemson player, and it was an open net, and I
just went for a corner," Tourtellotte said.
The goal put the Laay LramecocKs up z-i witn zz
minutes left.
"It was awesome," she said on seeing the ball ripple
s on wins first gar
game), going. Then, at 29:23
3t half was controlled by the half, Josh Wolf finally put o
. They outshot the Buccaneers giving the Gamecocks a 11<
had nothing to show for it, would be all the Gameco
suburb play of Charleston Five minutes later Mike!
goalkeeper Antony Hall and his second goal of the seasc
kick. This opened the flood
amecocks ? Gamecocks,
it seemed, In the next three m
r i s t i n n Gamecocks scored two m
put it in the net with 41:42 high scoring midfielder C
first half. But it was taken The first being a penalty 1
l offsides call. The first of two minutes left in the second'
y from the Gamecocks. next an unassisted goal wi
unecocks kept the pressure in the second half,
scond half and finally got the These were the first twi
hich sputtered all season(3 season for Mathis, who le
[ames coming into yesterday's last year.
American Tony S(
the men's socce
1996 schedule would be the
toughest the Gamecocks have
Coming after a 1995 final
national ranking of No. 4 and
al6-4-0 record, that means things M^|8
aren't going to get any easier for
the Gamecocks.
"That's also where we can be
lii/>1rv tVimirrVi " Qntn aairt TT.von ^
luvnj uivugn, WWI.W wuiu. u*vu Jm
though we have lost the first L
three games, since our schedule *OTO
is so tough and there's so many
high-ranked teams there, if we win our key games we
can still go to the NGAAs without any problem."
It also means he and the rest of the Gamecocks
have been humbled a bit through the initial part of
the season.
"We've been shown that we're not invincible, and
we can get beat by any given team," Soto said. "Every
team is good on any given day."
Soto saw a lot of good play this summer when he
comDeted in four games with the U.S. OlvmDic men's
soccer team as its youngest member. He just missed
the final cut for Atlanta, but Soto said the experience
was simply "unbelievable."
What started at the age of three has blossomed
into appearances on the U.S. Under 17, Under 20,
Under 21 and Under 23 national soccer teams for Soto.
Playing soccer is just something that comes "from
deep within me," he said.
"I've played all the other sports, and I've been
pretty good at all the other sports, but if s just a love
of soccer," Soto said. "If s not kicking the ball, if s not
hitting the ball, ifs not the running, ifs not the fitness,
w mam a^^m iflllllll
JL
CRTS
team spikes a
v^iembun signs.
Laires, a freshman, led the team with 12 kills,
hitting .375. She also added 12 digs. Sophomore Ashley,.
Edlund recorded 40 assists and 10 digs.
Sophomore Cindy Robarge was also on her game
with 11 kills and two block assists. Robaige, a Columbia
native, was no stranger to the Clemson rivalry.
"It's not hard for me to get up for this match,"
Robarge said. "I know what a win against Clemson
means to the fans here."
Hudson and players were also glad to have junior
Shani Abshier back at full strength for Carolina.
Abshier, who had 8 kills, 15 digs and two service aces,
had missed a majority of the season with an ankle
injury.
It was the final match for USC before beginning
SEC play next weekend. The Lady Gamecocks travel
to Mississippi State Sept. 27, and then to the University
of Mississippi Sept. 29.
Carolina returns home the following weekend.
The team faces Auburn Oct. 4, and Alabama Oct. 6.
Clemson, 3-2
the back of the net. "But then I looked up at the clock
and saw how much time was left. We were up, but
the battle wasn't over."
USC struck again when Mindy Sanders knocked
a rebound off the Clemson goalkeeper at the 74:22
mark to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. Clemson sophomore
Sara Burkett netted a penalty kick at 75:08 after
Carolina freshman Mandy Pavlovits was given a redcard
for a hand ball in the goalkeeper's box, resulting
in her ejection.
Burketf s goal brought the Tigers to within 3-2.
The Gamecocks were forced to play the final 14:52
with only ten players, but held off a furious rally by
Clemson.
The defense held up and goalkeeper Amanda j
Sandling, who made five saves inthe victory, made t
a diving save with 4:45 left to preserve the Carolina |,
victory. The Lady Gamecocks will host Virginia j
Commonwealth tonight at 7pm.
ne of the year age
in the second "j0hn did a great job in the back
"o lead. This important tor the team to get a st
cks needed. Mark Berson, soccer te
"I started getting a little frustrated,
at far tVio then I got the penalty kick and another i
1 r one. It feels good," Mathis said.
inntp? tha Robbie Pait finished the scoring with
./.I 13 minutes left in the second half, making
lint Mathis ^ ^ 8638011 ^ was assiste^ (
kick with 21 by K"stinn Larusson.
lf j., John Mills, who was back from his i
half, and the - . ,. J
th iQ'Vi lpft one-game suspension for picking up a
red card in the Furman game, notched (
1 ftL his 13th career shutout.
jf? _ctinn "John did a great job in the back. It ,
d the nation f - , , , . , <
was important for the team to get a ^
Dto is leading a
r team this fall
it's just everything put together. It's something that
I love and want to be a part of the rest of my life."
Carolina Team Notes
Hie new Eugene E. Stone ID Stadium at Tlie
Graveyard will be dedicated Sunday at 2:00pm
during a game against the University of
Massachusetts.
The game is part of the annual UMBRO
Soccer Tournament that is hosted by USC.
The ceremonies will include a presentation
to Eugene E. Stone m who made a one million
dollar contribution to the soccer program that
allowed the athletic department to expand the
current stadium.
Sunday's festivities include a parade of youth,
a special presentation to Eugene E> Stone III,
and a short speech by former Gamecock Rob
Smith who represented the United States of
America on this year's Olympic Soccer Team.
The next home volleyball game will be against
SHr rival Auburn nn Ortr?b*?r Atb_
The game will be the first ever SEC game in
the new Basketball Practice/Volleyball
Competition Facility.
South Carolina senior runningback Duce
Staley was named the SEC Offensive Player of
the Week for his effort in the Georgia game. In
the game he rushed for 170 yards on 30 carries.
The Gamecock Walk will be held this Saturday
before the East Carolina game. The players and
coaches will walk through a tunnel d Gamecock
fans at 5 pm tomorrow on the West Side of the
stands. Last week over 10,00 fans participated.
n
s
s
I
Friday, September 20,1996
irchrival Clemson
: j^BB ! v: wHB
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KAREN STOVEU. The Gamecock
Ihanl Abshler of the volleyball team la serving up some big play for
he Lady Gamecock Volleyball team this season. After nursing an
njury for the first part of the season she came out and had a great
[ame against arch-rival Clemson. The Lady Gamecocks next home
[ame Is against SEXC rival auburn on October 4th.
linst Charleston Southern
It Was shutout," Coach If not, they will be in for a long
? Benson said about his afternoon.
IlltOUt. senior goalkeeper. South Carolina 5
sam head coach Coach Bason also Charleston Southern 0
stressed the great
lefensive play of Jeff Wilson, Tony Soto, Score By Periods:
Bans Whetstone and Chris Morman as 1st 2nd Final
i major key to the victory. CSU 0 0 0
Next up for the Gamecocks will be USC 0 5 5
lationally ranked Massachusetts at the
Graveyard on Sunday. Scoring:
This will be a tough game and coach uSC-Josh Wolff (unassisted) 60:37
Bers??r!f?ows lt 4 . USC-Mike Solano (unassisted) .67:22
UMass is a very, very tough usc.c|jnt Mathjs (penalty m)
'"Te bJSSZU need another ^C-Clmt Mathis (unassisted) 70 05
dl-around effort from the team if they ^C"?0bble?P,a" (U'USSOn) 77:00
*mt to be in the game. Attendence: 932
f J ^^B^M^^MwMhhmbil \ t A^KSJkj&iS
SHrHvl I
ROBERT WALTON The Gamecock
j'lstlnn Larusson had an assist In tho last minutes of the soccer
natch against Charleston Southern that Iced the match. The men's
occer team won for the first time this season with the 5-0 victory,
napping a three game losing streak.