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PHOTO BY AARON HARK/THE GAMECOCK Erica Bowie heads the ball down during USC’s win over Florida last weekend. Bowie and the Gamecocks, who tied the record Friday for the best start in program history, had a six-game winning streak broken Sunday at Vanderbilt Vandy halts USC winning streak ijSfc USC q (9-3,2-1 SEC) U JL Vanderbilt 2 **f|pE (3-6,1-2) ^ BY MATT ROTHENBERG THE GAMECOCK More than three weeks of win ning came to a halt Sunday for the USC women’s soccer team, as thb Gamecocks lost 2-0 to Vanderbilt in Nashville. The defeat marks the end of Carolina’s six-game winning streak, which dates back to a 3-1 win against the College of Charleston on Sept. 14. With Friday’s 1-0 victory over Kentucky in Lexington, though, the Gamecocks tied the record for the best start in the pro gram’s history. The original mark was set in 1999, when USC went 9-2 before losing to Clemson, then the ninth-ranked team in the nation. Six consecu tive wins also ties a record that was also set in 1999. Carolina (9-3,2-1 SEC) beat the Wildcats for the first time ever Friday as senior midfielder Melinda Carter beat the UK goalkeeper for her fourth goal of the season. After gaining control of the ball following a deflected shot by Melissa Hutson, Carter drilled a shot into the far post to give the Gamecocks the lead early in the second half. Goalkeeper Elise Matthews did the rest to ensure her second straight shutout, stopping four shots in the win. “We overcame a poor first half of play and came out playing bet ter in the second half, and we lift ed the level of play and we’re happy to come away with a win,” USC head coach Shelley Smith said. “Elise had a great game in goal for us tonight. She really was solid the entire night, cov ering shots and intercepting crosses.” The Gamecocks were outshot Sunday 18-10, but they couldn’t convert any chances against the Commodores (3-6,1-2). Vanderbilt’s Erin Higgins and Michelle Bruntlett each tallied a goal against Matthews, who fin ished with six saves on the day. Smith noted that the luck just didn’t go her squad’s way in the second game of the weekend. “Vanderbilt came out and cap italized on some unlucky mishaps and took advantage of the chances they had,” she said. Carolina, hoping to start up another win streak, will come home to the Graveyard on Friday night to face the Arkansas Razorbacks. USC will also play host to LSU on Sunday. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail. com BRIEFLY Lake victorious for - third straight week Jenny Lake led the Gamecocks wit^i another stellar performance on her way to her third-straight victory, and USC finished fourth in the Clemson Invitational on Saturday. SEC foe Alabama won the event with a score of 48, while Carolina posted 95 points. The 6-kilometer race was also scored as a state meet, with Carolina coming out on top. “Jenny and Kinsey (Eschenburg) ran very well to day,” USC cross country head coach - Stan Rosenthal said. “It is always nice , to beat our friends up the road from us.” Lake recorded a time of 22 min utes, 42 seconds Lake to set the course * record. Eschenburg crossed the finish line at 24:24 to finish 12th. Mary Claire Utsey placed 26th, while Lauren Paige finished 31st. Rounding out the five-member squad was Mary Wright, who registered a time of 26:04. Carolina will have next week end off before it travels to Rock Hill to compete in the Eagle Invitational on Oct. 19. Curry, Dwyer lead volleyball to 2 wins The USC volleyball team re turns home victorious after de feating both Arkansas and LSU 3-1 over the weekend. Carolina dropped the first game against the Razorbacks, but led by Niece Curry and Berna Dwyer (17 kills apiece), the Gamecocks took the final three games en route to the win. “After game one, Niece and Bema stepped it up for us,” USC head coach Kim Christopher said. “They made critical plays in game two. We ran a faster of fense, and that was what we need ed to do. This was a good win.” In the third game of the match, senior Cally Plummer landed six aces, which made her Carolina’s all-time leader in aces. Despite being outhit by Arkansas in the first three games, USC took a 9-2 lead in the fourth game and tempered the Razorbacks’ attack to win. Against the Tigers, the Gamecocks fell again in the first game 30-21, but Curry and Dwyer helped Carolina rally for the sec ond-straight game. Curry had 21 kills in the match, while Dwyer had 17, and the duo hit .581 and .680. Freshman Sarah Morgan had several kills down the stretch as USC (12-3,5-0 SEC) sealed the vic tory. Women’s golf 8th in Tar Heel Invitational The USC women’s golf team finished in eighth place at the Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C. Carolina shot a team score of 303 Sunday for a tournament to tal of 902. USC’s Kristy McPherson fin ished in a tie for fourth place af ter firing a four-over-par 76 on Sunday for a total score of 219. It was McPherson’s first top-5 and her second top-10 finish of the sea son. Junior Kory Thompson also shot a 76 on Sunday. She fin ished with a total score ot 22b, good McPherson enough for 32nd place. Junior Adrienne Gautreaux recorded the best round of the day for the Gamecocks with a 75 to finish in a tie for 45th place. Sophomore Tiffany Catafygiotu shot a 79 to land in 52nd place, se nior Kacy Thompson tied for 53rd place, and junior Marci Robinson tied for 64th place. Defending national champion Duke won the team competition with a team score of 877,13 over par. The Gamecocks will next com pete in the Lady Paladin Invitational starting Oct. 25. Football CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 ly Travelle Wharton,” head coach Lou Holtz said. “I meant to give him the game ball. He showed great courage after the death of his grandmother.” The Carolina defense finally put up the performance it has been looking for all season. MSU (1-4,0-3) managed only 69 yards rushing and 205 passing. The Bulldogs punted eight times and didn’t pick up a first down un til 12 minutes were left in the sec ond quarter. Takeaways were the story for the Gamecocks, as the team racked up three interceptions and two fumbles. Comerback Dunta Robinson — the catalyst for the young and im proving secondary — had four tackles and nabbed two intercep tions, both in the fourth quarter. “I mentioned to the team that I wanted five turnovers by the de fense, and the first thing they said Soccer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 nificantly more than they’ve played all year,” he said. “Some of them hadn’t played much at all. And they all stepped up.” Included in that group was fresh man forward J.C. Desriac, who led the team in shots with four. “This was the first game that J.C. really gotten major playing time, and I thought he did very well,” Berson said. “He’s going to be a player of the future for us.” on the sideline (after Robinson’s second interception) was ‘We got 5,’ ” Holtz said. “They were count ing them.” Robinson was pleased with how the defense frustrated Fant and the MSU attack. “We’ve gained more experi ence and become more comfort able,” Robinson said. “This is the way we are capable of playing; our confidence level is real high right now.” Linebacker George Gause also had a strong game with six tack les — two for sacks — and a forced fumble. “All week in practice, we prac ticed coming to the ball, breaking down, and squar mg to me receiver Gause or running back l and making the tackle,” he said. Holtz was proud of his team’s performance and said this week was much better than the past few. “I think the best thing we did Other underclassmen that stood out for Carolina were fresh men Lawson Vaughn, Willis Forko and Ryan Deter, and Stovall, a sophomore from Columbia. “A lot of our young guys really dug deep and went hard,” Berson said. “I was very proud of them. I think they showed a lot of charac ter.” The Gamecocks won’t have much time to recover from the tough loss. They travel to Wake Forest on Friday for a battle against the No. 3 Demon Deacons, who are undefeated. “This is the way we are capable of playing; our confidence level is real high right now.” DUNTA ROBINSON USC CORNERBACK was we didn’t give up the big pass, the big run, the big play,” he said. “We were a better fundamental football team today than we were last week and the week before. “The other good thing I think we’ve done is we’ve really started to come together as a team. I was encouraged by some things.” The Gamecocks must now try to maintain their high spirits be fore hitting the road Saturday to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington. USC has won three straight games since starting 1-2, but UK is 4-1 on the year. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com “A lot of our young guys really dug deep and went hard. I was very proud of them.” MARK BERSON USC MEN’S SOCCER HEAD COACH “We’re going to have to dig down and find a way to marshal the forces for Friday night,” Berson said. “It doesn’t get any easier for us.” / Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com HELP! THIS GUY’S WINNING THE GAMECOCK’S SPORTS CHALLENGE! Help take down Matt Rothenberg, the assistant sports editor and current leader of Sports Challenge. We’ll put 10 college football games in Wednesday’s issue. You send us your predictions by 2 p.m. Thursday. If you’re chosen, at random, as our reader of the week, we’ll publish your picks on Friday and you'll be eligible for a free Gamecock T-shirt (if you win for the week). The readers are only five games behind, in a tie forthird place overall. Maybe you can help close the gap. Please, we must do something. The man is getting far too cocky. . 1, V-v ■'■•V , , . ' /' Attention Students! Head to the Mountains for Fall break! Come to the Backpacker to find: 1 -fc. -n ~ t • Maps & guidebooks for regional hiking • Rental tents, backpacks, sleeping bags & pads • Miscellaneous camping items (stoves, headlamps, water filters, etc.) • Waterproof jackets for men & women • Hiking boots for ^ men & women • Longjohns, fleece jackets & pants to keep you warm Show your USC ID rd and receive 10% off any equipment rental expires 12/1/02