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USC Schedule ■ Men’s soccer vs. Winthrop, Tuesday ■ Women’s soccer vs. Davidson, Wednesday ‘Dawgs bury USC in Athens by Todd Money Sports Editor For the second straight week, South Carolina’s offense consistently stalled, stumbled and tripped over its own feet against a Top 25 opponent. This time, though, the weather had nothing to do with it. , It was Georgia’s linebackers and cov erage men, not Hurricane Dennis, who did in USC on Saturday night, 24-9. For a pairing that was supposed to be a blowout—the No. 12 Bulldogs host ing USC, loser of 11 straight games com ing in — it didn’t look much like it at the start. In fact, the most memorable mo ments of the first quarter were Geoigia receivers dropping three Quincy Carter passes. On Georgia’s third drive of the quarter, though, Carter and the vaunted UGA offense, which had scored 38 against Utah State a week earlier, began to make big plays. Facing a third-and-14 at his own 26, Carter stepped back and beamed one to an open Patrick Pass, who was stopped at Georgia’s 47. From there, the drive was standard Georgia, with Carter making good use of the option in picking up yardage on nine straight plays. Just inside the 14-minute mark of the second quarter, an option toss to Charles Grant at the 1 led to the Bull dogs’ first touchdown. And they weren’t done. On its next drive, Carter struck again on third down, hitting Pass with a 26-yard slant to the left sideline that put Geoigia at USC’s 29. Af ter the Gamecock defense stiffened, Hap Hines’ 43-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by USC linebacker John Abra ham. As they would prove time and again in this game, though, the 1999 Gamecocks are not yet a team to capitalize on its opponents’ mistakes. Carolina’s ensuing drive went three downs and out. “We couldn’t get any rhythm going, as far as running,” USC coach Lou Holtz said afterward. “There was no room for anybody.”. Carter would save his boldest play of the game for the next drive, finding wide open receiver Terrence Edwards for a 47 yard bomb. After the extra point, Geor gia was up 14-0, a lead it would take in to halftime. “Fourteen points is not insurmount able,” Holtz said. “You have to get some help, you have to set something up.” For USC’s offense, it essentially was. Seven Carolina drives in the game lasted less than five plays, and quarterback Phil Petty repeatedly found himself on the ground after incomplete passes. One drive in particular typified the visitors’ night. In the third quarter, down 17-0 after a Hines field goal and deep in his own territory, Petty threw on first down to Kerry Hood, who reined in the ball at the USC 45. On the next play, tailback Derek Wit son took an option toss and was buried for a nine-yard loss. Petty then was sacked on successive plays, dropping the Game cocks back to their own 23. On top of it all, starting center Scott Browne tore his anterior cruciate liga ment on the firstof those sacks. “That’s going to hurt us a little bit, but we can play better as a whole than we did,” Petty said. Positives for USC came in spurts. On its next drive of the quarter, Hood made a second long-distance grab despite being well-covered, putting the Gamecocks at Georgia’s 27. The drive stalled, but kicker Court ney Leavitt’s 28-yard field goal with 2:58 left in the period accounted for USC’s first points on the season. Just when it looked like Carolina would find a way to stay in the game, though, Leavitt was forced to punt from his own 16 after another short drive. The Bulldogs got good field position on the ensuing possession and used just eight plays to punch in another score, this one on a Carter pitch to running back Jasper Sanks from three yards out. With 11:49 left in the game, Georgia had its biggest lead, at 24-3. Petty and his receivers finally found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, with Petty zipping in balls to receivers Boo Williams, Brian Scott, Jermale Kelly and finally reserve Carlos Spikes, who hauled in an 8-yard catch for a touchdown with 3:16 to go. But Leavitt’s missed extra point afterward seemed to cap off another USC loss perfectly. “We wore down,” Holtz said. “I think our first-team defense played really well, but we can’t play that many plays as hard as you have to.” O LAIN r\ AYrUKU rMU I U tUIIUK The South Carolina defense surrounds Georgia running back Patrick Pass in the second half Saturday. Pass had 54 all-purpose yards in the Bulldogs; 24-9 victory over the Gamecocks in Athens, Ga. Women s soccer takes one ot two at home Lady Gamecocks slide past Commodores for first time but fall to Kentucky in overtime by Shannon Rooke Staff Writer The Lady Gamecocks’ soccer team split two tight matches over the weekend in SEC competition. The Lady Gamecocks defeated Vanderbilt on Friday for the first time in the program’s history. Just 10 minutes into the match, senior Mindy Sanders received a chip from sophomore Morgan McIntyre, then landed behind the startled Vanderbilt defense. In a one-on-one foot race, Sanders controlled the ball and neatly placed it over the top of Commodore goalkeeper Lauren Whitt’s hands. For the remainder of the match, both teams contributed good pres sure and intensity. However, the celebration began for the Gamecocks when the final whistle blew, as they came out with a 1 -0 win. For the team’s upperclassmen, it was a win they had been looking forward to for a long time. “The senior class especially has been waiting for this for a while,” senior defensive player Angela Austin said. “It’s great because we’ve never won against them before and they’ve always been in the top 20 After reminding the team members that they had another big game coming up, coach Sue Kelly had nothing but good things to say about the game. “It was great that we were able to hold on with such pressure, and we also played very smart tonight, which helped,” Kelly said “Van derbilt has always been a huge factor in our season, and they played a great game. But we ended up playing 17 players deep tonight, and I think that helped give us the fresh legs that we needed” Going into Sunday’s game against Kentucky, senior Leslie Lamb was hoping for the same result. “Kentucky is always a competitive team, and we’re definitely look ing to come out hard and play the same,” Lamb said. The Lady Gamecocks and the Wildcats from Kentucky, both com ing off SEC wins, looked to extend their winning streak at South Car olina on Sunday. After 29 minutes of intense pressure from the Lady Wildcats, Wildcat freshman Elizabeth Ramsey placed a ball from team mate Keri Boyce in the back of the Gamecock net. The Lady Game cocks went into halftime down 1-0, disappointed with their play and eager to make the necessary changes for the win. “We just got everything together, finally,” senior Jennie Ondo said. “We knew we needed to step it up a little, and we remembered to go back to basics and pass to feet. Just do the simple things right.” The changes worked, and the Gamecocks had four scoring oppor tunities within the first 20 minutes of play. Capitalizing on one of those chances was Ondo. After receiving a pass from Lamb that split the defense, Ondo faked around Kentucky goalkeeper Beth Wells and shot into an open net. The goal energized the team, and the Gamecocks dominated throughout the second half. with a minute lett in regulation, tne Lady uamecocKs naa tneir last chance to score. On a set play off a Kentucky foul, Austin shot from 25 yards out and watched as her kick sailed just over the net. The teams would now face off in a 15-minute sudden-death over time. Three-and-a-half minutes later, Ramsey once again received a pass from Boyce and placed it in the net. A stunned Gamecock team walked slowly off the field and into the locker room after losing, 2-1. “After our goal, we thought we were going to win this game,” On do said. “We got really pumped up, and we knew we could do it. I don’t even know what happened on their goal. It was an error by all of us, and it won’t happen again.” Kelly had similar feelings. “Some of the girls still have the illusion that other teams get lucky in overtime, so we will, too.” Kelly said. “But usually, we don’t. It was tough because we didn’t start well and they were a really tough team, as well.” Next, the Lady Gamecocks will hope to add to their win total when they host rival Davidson at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Sean Rayford photo editor USC’s women’s soccer team lost to Kentucky 2-1 Sunday. The Lady Gamecocks will host Davidson on Wednesday. The Slate (late games not included) National League _ Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str Atlanta 90 53 .629 - 7-3 L-l New York 87 56 .608 3 7-3 W-l Philadelphia 68 74 .479 21.5 1-9 L-8 Montreal 59 83 .415 30.5 3-7 W-l Florida 57 84 .404 32 4-6 L-2 Central Division Houston 88 56 .611 - 9-1 W-9 Cincinnati 84 58 .592 3 8-2 W-5 Pittsburgh 70 72 .493 17 5-5 W-l St. Louis 68 75 .476 19.5 4-6 L-l Milwaukee 61 80 .433 25.5 2-8 L-2 'Chicago 56 86 .394 31 1-9 L-5 West Division Arizona 85 57 .599 - 6-4 W-2 San Francisco 77 65 .542 8 6-4 W-l San Diego 67 76 .469 18.5 3-7 W-l Los Angeles 66 76 .465 19 5-5 L-l Colorado 65 78 .455 31 5-5 W-3 American League Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str New York 85 56 .603 - 4-6 L-2 Boston 81 61 .570 4.5 7-3 W-2 Toronto 75 68 .524 11 5-5 W-l Baltimore 66 76 .465 20 7-3 L-l Tampa Bay 62 80 .437 23.5 3-7 L-2 Central Division Cleveland 88 58 .624 - 7-3 W-l Chicago 61 66 .444 25.5 1-9 L-6 Minnesota 59 82 .418 29 3-7 W-l Detroit 58 83 .411 30 5-5 L-l Kansas City 56 85 .397 32 5-5 W-2 West Division Texas 85 58 .594 - 6-4 L-2 Oakland 78 64 .549 6.5 6-4 W-3 Seattle 70 71 .496 14 7-3 L-2 Anaheim 56 85 .397 28 5-5 W-2 Weekend’s Top News • Serena Williams defeats Martina Hingis at U.S. Open for her first Grand Slam win • Jets’ Testaverde out for season after tearing left Achilles’ tendon in second quarter of sea son opener • All-American candidate Lavar Arrington stops Pitt’s attempted upset of No. 2 Penn State • Florida State remains No. 1 in polls after win over No. 10 Ga. Tech •NASCAR rookie Tony Stewart picks up first Winston Cup victory Charlie Wallace Senior Writer Athens experience a wild one There is nothing quite like home sweet home. After spending one long night and one long day in the town that never sleeps, I’m very happy to be back in good ol’ Carolina. And I’m sure the football team is, too. I’ve been to many different towns to see the Gamecocks play football, but Athens, Ga., is by far the wildest, strangest and rudest of them all. Football dictates and complements the lifestyle in this city. I arrived in the epitome of college towns Friday night with a bunch of friends. My first thought was, “This is a pretty cool place.” My first impressions are usually wrong. To put it bluntly, Georgians and their fans have no respect for Caroli na fans. In fact, they hate us. yuite frankly, i don t really Know why - USC has only beaten UGA 11 times in more than 100 years of foot ball. I guess Bulldog fens just hate every one who doesn’t spell the word “dog” wrong or whose wardrobe doesn’t con sist entirely of red and black. My first run-in with these people was Friday night in an Athens bar. Half the place consisted of “Dawg” fans chanting every five minutes, “Gooo Dawgs, sic ‘em, woof woof woof,” while the other half retorted with the obligatory “Game! Cocks!” cheer. In 10 minutes, I found myself in the middle of a brawl. I ran out the door. But the real shock was game day. rhese people were tailgating at 9 a.m. for a 5 p.m. kickoff. And every time I walked past a Bulldawg fen, they shout ed some extremely clever expletive about my team’s nickname. One guy wore a cape. I saw one Carolina fan with a shirt that said simply, “Georgia Sucks.” A UGA fan went up to the guy, grabbed his shoulder, said, “Hey, man” and then punched him in the face. No cops, no security, nothing around. At tnat point, t ten ior my saiety. “Where am I?” I asked myself. I was scared to cheer for my team after that, and I had to calm down some fraternity brothers after our own brothers from UGA started talking junk. Football is God in Athens. The locals were surprised at how Carolina hung tough with their beloved Bulldogs for most of the game, though. No doubt the Gamecocks’ tough-as nails defense and the fact that USC did n’t just quit when the score was 24-3 raised some eyebrows. Instead, the Gamecocks showed valor in scoring a touchdown close to the end of the game. Most of the Carolina fans were still around to cheer on their team. Deep down, all USC fans really want is to have a competitive team that plays its hearts out every down. And in coach Lou Holtz’s system, if a play er doesn’t play as if his life depends on every play, he won’t play at all. During the whole fourth quarter, the giant TV screen on one of the score boards that had been showing the game and instant replays started showing the “Dawg-cam.” So for the rest of the game, whenever fans couldn’t see what was happening on the other end of the field and looked up at the screen, they saw UGA VI walking around the field, sniffing and licking things along his way. Before the game, a ceremony was held for the new “UGA.” Apparent ly, the fans were fed up with the old one and wanted to kill it. I don’t know, but there is something strange about a town in love with a Bulldog. I dare say that some of those Geor gia fans would choose UGA over their girlfriends and boyfriends. All in all, it was an interesting trip. And I can’t wait until next year, when the Gamecocks play those guys again. But I will never go back to Athens. Un less I develop a drinking problem. Charlie Wallace writes a column for The Gamecock every Monday. He can he reached at gamecocksports@holmail com.