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Women’s soccer gets pair of non-conference wins By STEPHANIE PENDRYS THE GAMECOCK The South Carolina women’s soccer team celebrated the Labor Day holiday with a pair of non conference home victories at the Graveyard over Houston, 4-1, and Iowa State, 1-0. The Friday evening clash against the Houston Cougars had a patriotic feel from the start, with Houston donning red and navy jerseys and USC taking the field in its pristine white kits. Youth was the theme of the evening; dozens of kids filled the stands to root for a Gamecocks team that started five freshmen in the game. The Gamecocks showed nerves early on in the game through many lost touches and players crossing a number of balls to no one in particular. But once South Carolina settled down and started to communicate on the field, the Gamecocks began to dominate the Cougars on both offense and defense. Each time the Houston front line tried to move the ball down or across the field, USC defenders Sarah Lentz and Kali Neumann broke the play. South Carolina went ahead 1-0 at 33:49 with a header by USC freshmen Sara Jane Harris off of a well-placed corner kick by fellow freshman Ashley Kirk. It was Harris’ first career goal as a Gamecock and the third assist on the season for Kirk. The Gamecocks went into the locker room at halftime with a 1-0 lead. Early in the second half, the Gamecocks increased their lead by two goals with an own goal as a ball knocked off a Houston defender and past Cougar goalie Katie Cook. Houston got back into the match when senior midfielder and 2003 Conference USA First Team honoree Nikki Hawkins made her presence felt on the field. Hawkins cashed in on not being marked by the USC defense and from 30 yards out let loose a rocket of a shot just over the head of Gamecock netkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson. The Gamecocks showed their resilience and responded to the Cougar goal by putting constant pressure on the Houston defense and sticking two more goals in the net in the final six minutes of play. Ashley Williams broke away from the Cougar defense with a display of nice footwork and slid a five-yard shot past Cook for a goal at 84:27. Newcomer Stacy Maxwell finished off the USC scoring spree at 88:09 off of an assist by Ashley Gosnell. The final statistics showed the Gamecock’s dominance of the Cougars: USC finished the evening with a 4-1 victory and a 21-3 advantage in shots and a 10-2 advantage in comer kicks. “We came out real flat and disorganized — like we were playing street ball — at the beginning of the game,” Kirk said. “But once we settled down and got our shots going, we played a lot better and were able to take control of the game.” Kirk said her teammates made the transition from high school to collegiate soccer easy for the freshmen. “They don’t cut us any slack, and we knew that coach expected us to play right away,” she said. “I love the Gamecock program.” The Gamecocks closed out the weekend with a match against the Iowa State Cyclones. The Cyclones (1-3) had dropped a match to North Carolina State Friday night and were looking to break even on their weekend road trip to the Carolinas. The game highlighted a clash of youth between the posts, with freshmen Jo Haig in the box for Iowa State and freshman Lindsay Thorstenson the protector of the onion bag for South Carolina. The Gamecocks seemed fatigued from the Houston game in the first half. South Carolina struggled to string passes together and committed a number of mental mistakes, allowing the Cyclones to control the tempo. Penalties plagued the first 45 minutes with 11 of 14 whistles against South Carolina. The game was scoreless at the interval and the Cyclones carried a 4-3 shot advantage after the first half. USC halfbacks Ashley Kirk and Courtney Cobbs kept pressure on the Cyclone defense. Thorstenson was kept busy throughout the half with a number of pass backs from the USC defense. Thorstenson made a pair of saves, including a block on an instep drive by Iowa State that she batted out of harm’s way. But it was a tale of two halves for the Gamecocks. While they lacked efficiency and played to Iowa State in the first half, USC started the second half firing on all cylinders. A number of solid crosses and crisp shots on goal by a reenergized USC squad gave the Gamecocks the momentum and control of the tempo. Almost 15 minutes into the second half, senior USC forward Ashley Williams took a pass and blazed past the Cyclone defense. She fired a shot to the upper right and just out of the diving reach of Cyclone goalie Jo Haig. The goal was Williams’ second of the weekend. The Gamecock pressure on offense and defense seemed to break the spirit of the Cyclones, as many Iowa State players could be seen clutching their shorts in exhaustion. Williams’ goal was the lone score of the match and enough to seal the victory for the Gamecocks. South Carolina came back with eight shots in the second half and finished the match with an 11-6 shot advantage over the Cyclones. Thorstenson snagged three saves in the match and earned the clean sheet as her third victory on the 2004 season. The Gamecocks (4-1) return to action Friday with a road trip to the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic. USC will take on the Maryland Terrapins on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and the host Virginia Cavaliers at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. South Carolina will next play at home Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Gamecocks host Clemson at the Graveyard: -- Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu Former Gamecocks take to NFL stage By DANIEL KERR THE GAMECOCK On the eve of the NFL’s opening night, it’s time to take a look at former Gamecocks trying to make an impact at the next level. John Abraham enters his fifth season as a defensive end for the New York Jets. In a new defensive scheme, the Jets will play more out of a 3-4 alignment, which will put Abraham back at his college position of outside linebacker. Last season, Abraham had six sacks and 32 total tackles after missing a couple of games to suspension. Running back Duce Staley left Philadelphia for Pittsburgh where he figures to be more of a factor in the offense. Coach Bill Cowher has expressed a desire to return to the power running game, which means more touches for Duce. Last year, Staley averaged 4.8 yards on only 96 carries in a multi-back system. Alter recording catcnes and six touchdowns last year for the Ravens, Marcus Robinson left Baltimore for Minnesota where he will complement game-breaker Randy Moss. Robinson found his stride late last season when fellow Gamecock alum Anthony Wright entered as the starting quarterback. Also in Minnesota is third-year back-up safety Willie Offord. Offord was a part of USC’s two Outback Bowl wins and should contribute to the Vikings on special teams. Down in Miami, Arturo Freeman enters his fifth season as the Dolphins safety. Also in Miami is former ’USC quarterback-turned linebacker Corey Jenkins. Jenkins will again back up weak-side linebacker Junior Seau but has shown promise with some explosive hits in preseason gamfes. Sheldon Brown is looking forward to a breakout season with the Philadelphia Eagles. The cornerback will help replace cornerbacks Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent at cornerback. Last season, Brown had 43 tackles, 11 passes ■ WALLACE Continued from page 13 watching a sport in which every team really does have a chance to win a championship any given season, and I think that the sooner MLB realizes that’s the problem, the better. I think I’m glad the preseason is over and we can get to some real football. The season kicks off Thursday night with the Colts against the Patriots in a rematch of the AFC title game. Monday night’s game between the Panthers and the Packers is what the NFC title game would have looked like if it weren’t for a miracle on fourth down and 26 last year. Yes, the NFL is here once again. Now that all that’s out of the way, I need to go find tickets to the Georgia game. I think the Gamecocks are going win, and I don’t want to miss this. defended and an interception as a nickel back. The third season figures to be a make-or-break season for Detroit Lions defensive end Kalimba Edwards. A second-round pick in the 2002 draft, Edwards has disappointed Lions coaches so far. Second-year running back/fullback Andrew Pinnock will be fighting for time in San Diego with Pro Bowler LaDainian Tomlinson and Lorenzo Neal. USC sent three players to the NFL who will be rookies this season. Cornerback Dunta Robinson expects to start for the Houston Texans after being picked 10th overall. Third-rounder Travelle Wharton will be fighting for time with the Panthers’ experienced offensive line, while sixth-rounder Deandre’ Eiland tries to grab a spot in Minnesota’s defensive backfield. Look for the Gamecocks to make a big splash in the NFL this season as well as back home in Columbia. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksptnts@gwm.sc. edu ■ RIVALRY Continued from page 13 overtime win ovei Wake Forest. Both teams return a majority of their starters, many of whom probably still remember the game from last year. The big game is in Death Valley on Nov. 20. “This is what it is about,” Morgan said after leading the Gamecocks to victory Tuesday. “Beating Clemson is one of the greatest feelings. It feels like I am walking on air.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu GEORGE WIDMAN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh Steelers running back and former USC Gamecock Duce Staley, right, eludes Eagles corner back Sheldon Brown, another Carolina alum, for a 14-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of a game Thursday, Aug. 26. Staley is a former Philadelphia Eagle. OCO/ ?ff' All ITCMS IN STORE lu /0 EVERYDAY! Downtown # open this Saturday r_UWWn*W’l" ^ SEPTEMBER 11 Howards Sports mod—Fri 1113 Lady St. @ Main 771-6302 ioam-6pm Interested in taking The Gamecock Challenge? If you can beat the editors, you’ll win a fee Gamecock T-shilt. Send your picks to gamcocksports@gwm.sc.edu by 2 p.m. Thursday. We’ll select ONE person’s picks, at random, to be our Reader of the Week. This week’s games: Iowa State at 12 Iowa 19 Auburn at Mississippi State 7 Michigan at Notre Dame Georgia Tech at 18 Clemson 8 Texas at Arkansas Ole Miss at Alabama Oregon State at Boise State 6 Florida State at 5 Miami Colorado State at 1 USC 3 Georgia at South Carolina ♦ FOR TIE-BREAKING PURPOSES, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR SCORE FOR THE USC-GEORGIA GAME. AND DON'T FORGET YOUR NAME! ... . ...: .•: • • ...' .: . ... *2 . . . ..; Show your student I.D. & get 15% off regular price merchandise. Here's a no-brainer: Simply show your valid student I.D. and save 15% on all regular price stuff. (That's a lot of stuff.) But, you'd better hurry. Come September 26th, this offer's history. Sorry, cannot be used with any other discount or offer. Offer ends September 26, 2004. I at Design U atpierl.com for a chance to win a $1,500 Gilt Card. _