Oct. 26, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Marshall University men's soccer team travels for a second-straight conference game against South Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 27 at Stone Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The Herd enters the game with an 8-6-1 overall record and a 2-3-0 record in C-USA after its 3-1 setback against the University of Kentucky. The Wildcats got two quick goals against Marshall in the first half to set the tone early. Marshall's John Daniele found the net after a deflected shot from senior Jeff Lenix. Kentucky secured the win with a late second half goal.

The Gamecocks return to action in similar form after a 2-1 loss against No. 6 SMU. The Gamecocks are 9-5-1 on the season and 2-2-1 in conference action.

Last Week, Marshall split its two conference games against Memphis and UAB. Memphis jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the Tiger's Kevin Walsh scored 10 yards out. Marshall clawed back in the second half to tie the game on a John Daniele goal. The Tigers sealed the victory 30 seconds later with a header to give Marshall its second conference loss of the season.

The Herd hosted the UAB Blazers two days later and came away with a dramatic 1-0 win. It appeared the game was going into overtime, until a through ball was given to junior Dana Heimbecker. The Niagara Falls native outmaneuvered the Blazer goalkeeper and netted his second goal of the season.

Junior Kolby LaCrone remains the Herd's offensive leader with six goals this season. Seniors Daniele and Jermaine Johnson follow with four and three goals, respectively. The Herd is outscoring its opponents 26-21 this season and has already eclipsed last season's 19 goals.

Defensively, the Herd is still anxiously awaiting the return of Matt Dickerson. A Warsaw, Ohio native, Dickerson has been sidelined the last four conference games with a knee injury. Freshman Kendall Sutton has been replacing the injured Dickerson and is benefiting from the experience. Two-time second team all-conference, Lenix is still anchoring the defense with his speed. Lenix has contributed to the Herd's five shutouts this season.

Junior transfer Craig Ratanamorn has seen 893 minutes of action between the pipes and has accumulated 44 saves. He has a 1.11 goals against average and has earned three shutouts this season.

USC's Freshman forward Blake Brettschneider and sophomore midfielder Jeff Scannella have paced the Gamecock offense in recent weeks. Scannella scored in three consecutive contests, beginning with a game-winning tally at UAB, followed by another game winner at Davidson and an insurance goal at FIU. He also contributed the lone Gamecock goal against SMU, Wednesday. Brettschneider has four goals and four assists for the year, most recently providing the lone goal in USC's 1-1 tie against Memphis. In the net, freshman goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer owns a 0.99 goals against average -tied for tops in C-USA, while his four shutouts and 57 saves rank tied for first and second, respectively.

Marshall's head coach Bob Gray is still searching for victory 380 in over 30 years of collegiate coaching with 13 of those years at the helm of Herd soccer. South Carolina's head coach Mark Berson will also be looking to for a win to clinch a mile stone as he is one win shy of 400 at South Carolina.

The Herd holds the all-time series against the Gamecocks, 2-0. Last year, Marshall stunned South Carolina at its home pitch with a 2-1 victory. Junior JD Hill was the hero in the match as he scored the game-winning goal.