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SOCCER • conunuGD FROm 10 six games. The Gamecocks need to think about Wilmington’s air game and set kicks, off-of corner kicks, and direct and indirect penalty kicks. Berson said he’s confident in his defenses ability to handle the maturity and strength of Wilmington’s air attack. “Greg Reece and Ryan Leeton have been really strong in the middle and in the back,” Berson said. “Ralph Pace has been really strong in the air.” Carolina’s other focus in this game is finishing its goals. So through two overtimes and finally came out on top after junior forward Ayo Akinsete’s game-winning goal. It’s that fighting’spirit that makes Berson confident the team will compete with Wilmington. “Biggest thing is our mentality. The spirit is the most important thing/ Berson said. V“I think that the fighting spirit of this team is the thing that I like the most.” \ Game time is set for 7 tonight at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu SPURRIER • CURTIRUEDfROIR10 The Gamecock defense will get a boost this weekend as Dakota Walker and James Thompson enter the lineup. Walker, a true freshman from New Jersey, will see significant playing time in the first game of his college career after suffering a knee infection. Thompson, a sophomore from Sumter, will get an opportunity to play at right guard in an attempt to add a much needed spark to the offensive line. One of the major changes will be keeping Carlos Thomas on defense, as opposed to him splitting time at wide receiver. “It’s hard to get (Carlos) out “If we don’t change our ways around . here, we’re going to keep getting clobbered.” STEVE SPURRIER USC coach there on offense that many snaps right now with all the other players,” Spurrier said. “We just thought we could teach him the defensive scheme a little quicker and that he could play more of the game on the defensive side.” ' Although the changes come relatively late in the season with three games already played, Spurrier said he hopes that revamping both sides of the ball will help lead the Gamecocks to a victory against Troy. “If we- don’t change our ways around here, we’re going to keep getting clobbered,” . Spurrier said. “We need to change our ways quickly. We’re going to try. We tried to point (the problems) out. Hopefully, it’ll kick Saturday night.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu : Interested in taking The Gamecock Challenge? i VAVAVM l If you can beat the editors, you'll win a free The Gamecock * ■ • T-shirt. Send your pickstogamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu by j ^^P 2 p.m. Thursday. Well select ONE person's picks, at I ^B B 1 I IT random, to be our Reader of the Week. * I I I B T • 21 Iowa at 8 Ohio State 1 S. Cal at 24 Oregon • • BC at Clemson 10 Tennessee at 3 LSU • myn7T*T|rjTu ^ • UNO at NC State 7 Georgia at Miss. St | 15 Ga. Tech at 4 Va. Tech 16 Notre Dame at Washington • . • Arkansas at 20 Alabama TroyatUSC • I • ♦FOR TIE-BREAKING PURPOSES, PLEASE INCLUDE • ■■ ■■ • YOUR SCORE FOR THE TROY GAME. AND DON’T FORGET • ; YOUR NAME! • More men and women on the front lines are surviving life-threatening injuries than ever before for one reason: We have the most elite nurses in the world. As a U.S. Air Force nurse, you receive the most advanced training and have access to the best medical technology on the planet. And whether you're treating Airmen on foreign soil or their families on bases here in the U.S., you can put all of that training to use. If you're interested in learning more about a better 'place to practice medicine, call or visit us online. 1- 800- 588- 5260 • AIRFORCE.COM/HEALTHCARE far this season, USC has had 87 shots, as compared to its opponents’ 85. The Gamecocks have been creating opportunities for themselves all over the field but haven’t found the right formula for creating opportunities and finishing them with the ball in the net. Berson was optimistic coming out of the weekend tournament and the team’s victory against Loyola-Chicago. USC was down by 1 from the 43rd minute, and the team fought hard until senior defender Eric Szeszycki scored the tying goal in the 84th minute. The Gamecocks then battled