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Four Seal staff writer BROCK VERGAKIS Coming to college is a difficult transition for every student. Leaving home for a new city and new people is something thousands of USC students face. Imagine coming here, not from Charleston or Greenville, but even further away than Charlotte or Atlanta. California is just a hop, skip and a jump away compared to many students, especially international ones. For four members of the men's soccer team, the journey to USC has been a long, yet rewarding one. Co-captain John Harr (forward), Kim Eriksen (midfielder) and Anders Ronnevig (defender) all hail from the Scandinavian country of Norway. Rounding out the group of internationals on the team is Jonas Myllenberg (forward) from Sweden. These four spectacular players represent 40 percent of the team's upperclassmen. They've already shown their leadership on the field. In the Old Republic Soccer Classic, both Myllenberg and Harr received All-Toumament honors. Myllenberg has also been named the Division-I Men's Soccer Player of the Week by Independent Weekly Reports for his outstanding play during the week of Carolina's upset of defending national champion UCLA. ;j;yP!' jSwfflr Kim Eriksen, kicking the ball, is one of foi the USC men's soccer team. Eriksen, alon Anders Ronnevig have helped lead the No.' Soccer teams victorious r staff uriter FRAU TAYLOR I j The Carolina women's soccer team moved to 5-1-1 this season with a 5-1 win over Auburn Sunday. The win improves USC to 2-1 in Southeastern Conference play. Jennie Ondo, Gina Iacovella, Melinda Carter, Mandy Pavlovits and Lydia Bifintno oqpIi cpnro/1 o rr/tal fnr TTfif! H 1J1W111UU VUVU UVWI VU U gVUI 1V1 ? The Lady Gamecocks remain on the I C road to face Southeastern Conference I * foes Kentucky, Sept. 25, and Vanderbilt, Sept. 27. Gamecocks edge out Cougars 2-0 The No. 7 Carolina men's soccer team won a physical battle with the College of Charleston Sunday, 2-0. The Gamecocks move to a record of 5-1. Scott Campagna and John Harr scored the goals for the Gamecocks. Carolina is back in action Wednesday on the road against Davidson at 7 p.m. The Gamecocks return home for only their second home match of the T?1ivm on Qim<4 AVI o f O &easuu against ruimaii uuuaaj ai l p.m. I I 'I idinavia Of the four, only Myllenberg started his c( lege career at USC. Ronnevig and Harr boi transferred from the University of Chariest* (W.Va.). Eriksen transferred from USC Spa tanburg. Each of them speaks English extremely we considering their limited time in America. Eas going and very articulate, these four repr sent Gamecock soccer nicely. In a group inte view, each displayed a sense of intelligenc humor and charisma that is often lacking big-time collegiate athletes today. Each of them has become very acquaint* with American culture. Myllenberg even jo ingly said, "Yes, I miss the Swedish Bikini Tean which is primarily an American fascinatio In their native countries, soccer is the N 1 sport, but m America, it gets considerably le attention. "We knew coming over here that it wou be like that," Eriksen said. That lack of attention isn't quite what mai would think, though. At the conclusion of tl UCLA match, in front of a record crowd, lone fan waved the Swedish flag enthusiasi cally. "It was really neat," Myllenberg said. "I g to meet him after the game and he was a e change student at a high school here." f#lrJ IrfJr wWmI^ I i - ' ' ' ^ x: ur Scandinavians making a big impact < g with Jonas Myllenberg, John Harr ai 7 Gamecocks to 5-1 on the season. - MU^ $wing wi EVEN FOOT P before thi HOCK the "Clbow life llMMs <1 ia?sfy rBRQJJGHT,1 -^r'yTN 1? ns making )1- People are starting I th to take notice of the most I jn successful team at South I r- Carolina. They also like it Id when the women's team Jonas Myllenberg, No. 5 gets attention and would palsterbo, Sweden, said c iy like more people to atne tend their games as well. a The question on everyone's mind is: What thi ti- would bring someone across the Atlantic to play soccer in a country where they don't get half the ot respect they would back home? bu x- "Here, we get a opportunity through scholarship for a free education, which is something kn that doesn't happen in Norway," Harr said. laI IMyllenberg was quick to chime in: "to get away from the polar bears." wl "Ifs a good school and good climate," Erik- Sv sen added. While they all find the climate here very de- to sirable, sometimes they do miss home. an "We only get to see our family twice a year, at Christmas and during the summer," cei Eriksen said. at' "The snow. We miss the snow and skiing," Hi Ronnevig added. Like everyone at USC realizes, at one point pl; or another, food at the Russell House just can't compare to a home-cooked meal sometimes. M; "I miss dark bread," Eriksen said. "Sometimes native food is desirable and sometimes native peace and quiet is even more desirable." be "We hate the train that goes through at 35 night," said Myllenberg, in a tone that resem- *h bles student complaints from Bates House and w' the Towers about the noise level. so Many students here tend to shy away tei from foreign students for whatever reasons. H| These guys definitely don't want to shy away rig ??| from Americans and actively wish to interact ca li with the people here. Given the opportunity to Gi III relax and hang out with other international stu- Sc li dents or Americans, they would prefer to be ur ml around the latter. "If we wanted to be around people like us, bu III we would have just stayed home," Harr said. "Yeah, we don't like foreign people; they talk tb II funny," Myllenberg joked. *b In reference to their own languages, they ^1 can have their drawbacks and their benefits ii too. Sometimes the other players on the team P? itor get a little upset when they speak Norwegian te; jn to one another. Wi id Actually, "they get mad when we talk to each tei other every day," Harr said. de You Jv Plasma is an c for good quali KJ LI I I v. . piasma.basee here in our cc ?y Just a few hoi difference in i ?/iYTi f Bayer compel /di** how often yoi Bayer is seeki health with pi meet our heal while you eari m? arolina For more irocluctions information call 803-2 Notice: Plasma donors are subject ^RTQRv! ^ Colleae Je\ Sept. 23 - 25 10amSept. 28-2910ami mark oi i, goes up for a header against Coker ( >f missing home, "Yes, I miss the Swedis "The guys have been really good about it, 3 ugh," Eriksen claims. Sometimes if s difficult for them to control lat language they say in the heat of a game t they do try their best. A benefit of speaking something nobody ows is that it can help in avoiding running )S. "We're not allowed to swear in practice, so lenever we do, we just do in Norwegian, or vedish," Myllenberg said. The other guys on the team are beginning pick up on some of their choice vocabulary id use it to their advantage as well. When the question of the quality of U.S. socr in general was brought up, the guys directed tention to two kids playing in the background, arr pointed and said, "In Norway it is part the culture; now kids here are starting to ay, too." "Soccer here is getting better and better," yllenberg said. "I don't think the top 10 in colhas ever been better." Myllenberg said, "U.S soccer is getting tter. In Sweden, you can play against people -years-old that have more experience. Here, ey group everyone together by age group aereas there, a 7-year-old can play against meone our age and that will make him betr." According to these four, America is on'the fht path to earn respect. One way that respect n be earned is through professional soccer, ven the opportunity to play in Major League ccer or for a club in Europe, they feel that it idoubtedly best to play in Europe. "If the money was good, I'd playtin M.L.S., it otherwise, Europe," Ronnevig said. They each modestly said they didn't think ey would ever get to have that choice, but if eir play continues on the path it's been on, s a very distinct possibility. Last year alone, the group combined for 74 ints on 24 goals and 26 assists. Harr led the am in scoring as well as points. Myllenberg as named to the NSCAA All-South Region am. With another year of American soccer unr their belts, the accolades for these four young ^^.Eani ES HHBHP^^ iiUI B B HgMji Know... essential fluid of life and there is an ty plasma. i medicines save thousands of lives mm unity. urs of your time each month can he someone's life. isates you each time you donate. I i donate, you can receive up to $2; Ing STUDENTS and others to help sh eople in need. If you're at least 18 Ith requirements you can start sav n! &*** * to medical screening and resting prior to acceptance, and at all times. Mr %_ J NettyJj D aC 0 M I iumurf ^ORD Srorts Phow t^itor College on Sept. 1. My lien berg, a native of ?h Bikini Team." men are only expected to grow. With Harr leading the way as co-captain, the Gamecocks are already making noise. With the losses of Josh Wolff and Clint Mathis to M.L.S., many expected Carolina to be weaker than last year. So far, nothing could be further from the truth, and a big part of that has been the international presence on the field. With the average age of these four being 24, 'they have unparalleled on-field experience. They're quick to share their knowledge of the game with the team's younger players. "It's great to have experience to teach the other guys," Harr said. "It's also good to learn from the motivation and excitement of the younger ones." So far, the team chemistry has worked well. Commented Eriksen on the stronger presence of the team concept: "If s a lot more fun, good to share the responsibilities." On the subject of the losses of Wolff and Mathis, Ronnevig said, "The TEAM' without them is better than it was last year." * This team, like every other soccer team before them here, has only two goals in mind for this year. "Our main objective is the same as if has been for many years," USC coach Mark Berson said. "We want to win key regional games, become No. 1 or No. 2 in the South Region, secure a NCAA bid, and come into the NCAA Tournament with the objective of winning the NCAA Championship." Harr put the goal more bluntly: "Go 5-0 in the tournament and win a national championship." So far the Gamecocks have shown no reason not to believe this as a viable possibility. With only a loss to St. John's, national champions two years ago, the team seems to be on a date with destiny for a national championship run. The Gamecocks (5-1, No. 7 in the nation) return to action tonight when they travel to Davidosn. They return home for only their third home match of the season when they host Furman of O r\ rr? Qnn^av uiaii at Ld p.m. uuiiuaj. if?P* rp ff r e&fif I# xk.Qil C* x-~*m l^yili! When You on-going need ?>0nate i, some right Plasma Hp make the You Save I I Jves depending on J 3! a month! iare their good ^ # ,y?a.r.f ?,d and Earning iii& lives o Money! Bayer Corporation 1916 Taylor Columbia, SC 29201 MTVl f41 |f%| M wBWi ItllNj w IFATAl ITAI |1 || llflfj 1IJ J ii ^ The Official Bookstore of USC * 1400 Greene St. * Russell House * (803) 777-4160 |