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%ht (Samccock Men’s Soccer Team travels to Maryland to face top competition by Charles Tomlinson The Gamecock This weekend, the USC*men’s soccer team will com pete in the Maryland/FILA Soccer Classic. This three-day tournament is hosted by the University of Maryland at Col lege Park. The competititon will involve the soccer teams of University of Maryland, USC, Indiana University and the Uni versity of Virginia. On September 8, USC will face the Vuginia Cavaliers at 5 pm, and the Maryland Terrapins will face the Indiana Hoosiers (0-2) in game two at 7:30 pm. On September 10, the Cava liers and the Hoosiers will play at noon, and USC will battle the Terps at 2:30 pm. The Virginia Cavaliers, the first team the Gamecocks will face this weekend, are the No. 3 team in the country accord ing to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The Cavs ended their 1999 season with a 14-9-1 overall record. U\A has a 2-0 record so far this season. Coach George Gelnovatch has an extremely powerful offense. Returning forward-powerhouses Sheldon Barnes and Ryan Gibbs will contribute to the strength of this squad. In addition, freshman forward Alecko Eskandarian, who has already been named an ACC Player of the Week, is a major offensive threat. With a record of 2-0, the Terrapins are No. 8 in the country. In 1999, they had an overall record of 14-6. Coach Sasho Cirovsky, since assuming the duties of head coach in 1993, brought a previously sub .500 team to the NCAA Fi nal Four in the 1998 season. Starting goalie Christian Lewis has only allowed one goal in the two games so far this sea son. Bryan Vitagliano and junior co-captain Nick Downing have been big scorers so far this season for the Terps. De fenseman and co-captain Beckett Hollenbach has assisted sev eral goals this season. This season, USC is ranked No. 22 by the NSCAA. Their record thus far is 1 -1. The Gamecocks won a 2-1 victory over the University of Massachusetts, but their next game yielded a 2-1 loss to UNC-Charlotte. Last season, after finishing 10 7-2, the Gamecocks narrowly missed a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Mark Berson says his main goal this season is “for us to win enough games to go to the NCAA tour nament this year.” USC has lost six starters from last year’s squad Hie biggest personnel losses for the Gamecocks are starting backs Scott Campagna, Chris Morman, and Hans Whetstone. However, after some shuffling of posititons, Coach Berson hopes to have a solid lineup for the games to come. Sophomore Tim Glowien ka, formerly a midfielder, has moved to defense, leaving most ly freshmen and sophomores in the midfield. “Our midfield will be entirely reshaped this fall with sopho more Tim Glowienka moving to anchor the back line,” Berson said, “but we have a great group of newcomers, including [transfer sophomore] Dave Moore, who will no doubt be a leader in the midfield.” Berson feels that the Maryland Soccer Classic, as well as games against other formidable opponents will challenge the Gamecocks in 2000. “[These games] will be good opportunities to prove our selves as we move forward into the season,” Berson said The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com. Amy Goulding The Gamecock Gamecock forward Jordan Quinn fights for posses sion with a UMass defender Sept 1 at The Graveyard. Georgia from page 1 who is very inexperienced. Accompa nying him will be returning starter Kendrell Bell and junior Will Wither spoon, who is playing for Tony Gilbert, who is also suspended for Saturday's game. Georgia’s defensive line will be a good one this season. Four starters re turn, and three of them are starting again this season. Marcus Stroud and Richard Seymour will be the muscle at defensive tackle, while a pair of two quick ends, Charles Grant and Demetric Evans, will man the outside rush lanes. The Bull dogs get solid depth at each position, high lighted by backup end Josh Mallard and tackle David Jacobs. The secondary has yet to be tested this season, but Georgia does return ex perience at all positions. Returning starters Cap Burnett and Terreal Bierria occu py the safety positions, but senior Jer maine Phillips will get quality playing time as well. The starting comers are Cory Robinson who led the team in in terceptions with five in 1999, and Tim Wmsley. Georgia can go deep at this po sition as well, utilizing the abilities of Jamie Henderson and Decory Bryant. On special teams the Bulldogs are average. Damien Gary is an unreliable kickretumer, and Musa Smith and Bruce Thornton lack the desired experience. Jonathan Kilgo is basically an average Division-I punter, totaling only 144 yards with four punts last Saturday. Georgia lost senior Hap Hines, one of the top kickers in college football last season, and have no definite kicker this season. For now, Brel Kirouac will handle the job. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com. Fogler from page 1 7th. One week later, the Gamecocks will travel to take on perennial conference pow ers Kentucky and Tennessee. After re turning to Columbia to host NIT squad Van derbilt, USC is slated to play four more NCAA Tournament teams, including Auburn at home, Florida and Louisianna State on the road, and then UK back at Frank McGuire Arena. USC’s first nine games are against 1999 postseason teams, as op posed to their last seven games, of which only four teams saw postseason action. “The SEC has proven to be one of the nation’s top basketball conferences, and the league should again improve this sea son, with the Eastern Division being par ticuarly competitive,” Fogler said. Ten USC games in the 2000-2001 sea son will be televised, eight regionally on Jefferson Pilot and Fox Sports network, and two nationally on ESPN. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com. FSU prepares to open conference schedule by David Droschak Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. —The monotony begins tins week end for Florida State — and very likely the rest of the ACC. The No. 2 Seminoles (1-0) embark on a run for a ninth straight Atlantic Coast Conference football title during a season most experts predict will be even less of a challenge then normal. This weekend’s opponent is Geoigia Tech. The Yel low Jackets played Florida State to a six-point game last ; season, but that was with elusive quarterback Joe Hamil- ' ton. Geoigia Tech opened the post-Hamilton era with a ’ less-than-scintillating four-point victory over Central i Florida last Saturday. How then can the Yellow Jackets be expected to beat the most powerful team in Florida? - “As in any conference I think you’ve got to beat the , perennial champ more than one team, once a year to say, , ‘Yeah, the conference is not Florida State-dominated.’ But it has been.” Geoigia Tech coach Geoige O’Leary said when asked about the Seminoles’ 62-2 overall ACC record.’ This is the second straight season the Yellow Jack ets have opened ACC play with Florida State, meaning j a loss likely knocks Geoigia Tech from the league race 1 refore it warms up. “Everybody strives to win your conference and that’s he team that you have to go through to win it,” O’Leary aid. “Coaches and players at this level are all great com )etitors. You don’t get discouraged, you keep trying to mprove.” The Seminoles have won 13 straight dating to last rear’s national title run. Coach Bobby Bowden used in off week to work on the team’s running game, which ;ained only 57 yards in a season-opening 29-3 victory >ver Brigham Young. “I think if we get some bodies on the right people vill be do better,” Bowden said of his offensive line. “It s still a question mark with us right now.” This year’s matchup doesn’t have the same feel or nticipation as in 1999 when both teams were ranked in he top 10 and could move the ball at will, resulting in thrilling 41-35 Florida State victory. “Both of us have our top stars missing. Us with 5eter Warrick and them missing Joe Hamilton,” Bow ien said. “I would be shocked if it became a shootout ike it was last year. The big thing about us in the last :ame is we caught the ball well but we miss old Peter ireaking them for touchdowns.” STADIUM STORE! Where your purchases benefit both you and the scholarship programs of USC. • find all your sideline apparel, spiritwear. and tailgating needs! • Great gift ideas! • 'flew Tola styles arriving this weekend! LOCATED AT TJiE XOKTJi END ZOTJE (Clothing may also be purchased at various other stations throughout the stadium) f 1 ■ mt* f 1 • Be sure to look out for our Tarent’s ^Weekend Coupons! Go Gamecocks ■ Beat Georgia!