South Carolina expects boost from new league

Posted 9:03PM on Wednesday 24th August 2005 ( 19 years ago )

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Longtime South Carolina men's soccer coach Mark Berson never worried much about being an independent school until it came time for the NCAA tournament. That's when not being in a conference was felt to its fullest effect. ``You'd get down to the fine strokes in the NCAA tournament selection behind closed doors and you didn't have a conference there to help talk for you,'' Berson said Wednesday. Berson has rarely had trouble getting into the NCAA tournament with 17 appearances in his 27 seasons. But he knows there are times his club came in with a certain standing from regional committees ``and maybe the fifth team from the Big East got in,'' he says. ``There was nobody there'' to push Berson's club. That won't be the case this season with South Carolina an affiliate member of Conference USA. There were six of the 10 schools in this year's configuration, including the Gamecocks, who went to the NCAA tournament last year. That means if the Gamecocks are on the tournament bubble, they'll have someone in the room making their case. ``Can I say for sure? No,'' Berson said. ``But as a coach and as a competitor, I kind of think this was going to be a real plus.'' While the rest of South Carolina's teams splashed their Southeastern Conference ties to recruits and rivals, Gamecock soccer has worked as an independent contractor. Along with the Gamecocks, only Kentucky and Vanderbilt field men's soccer teams among SEC members. Independent status hasn't hurt the school in victories or among the region's best prospects. South Carolina reached the NCAA championship game in 1993 and has produced such American soccer standouts as Josh Wolff and Clint Mathis. Last season, the Gamecocks arguably featured the country's best goalkeeper in Brad Guzan, who has started several games this season for CD Chivas USA in Major League Soccer. Still, South Carolina midfielder Eric Szeszycki says there was something missing from the men's soccer season that he watched the rest of the school's program enjoy. ``You want to play for a conference tournament title or a championship,'' he said. ``It's something that gets you going.'' Not that South Carolina's new league will be a cakewalk. Reigning conference tournament champion Memphis along with first-time members Central Florida, Florida International, Southern Methodist and Tulsa are all coming off NCAA appearances. When Berson first learned the Gamecocks were selected to finish fourth in the league championship chase, he thought, ``Oh, that's not too good.'' But when he saw South Carolina was chosen ahead of such accomplished soccer schools at Alabama-Birmingham, Florida International and Central Florida, he thought, ``Oh, how'd they pick us ahead of them.'' Berson has nine of his 11 starters back from last year. The biggest hole to fill will be Guzan. Right now, the coach says freshman Mike Gustavson from South Aiken High is the top contender which means a transition time could be ahead. Berson's not yet certain if his defense will play tougher since they know Guzan's not waiting to make the spectacular save or if his strikers will have to win games 9-8. ``We'll be solid,'' Berson said. ``We'll be OK.'' The one area that needs time to flourish are league rivalries. Few South Carolina soccer fans are accustomed to yearly contests with Marshall, Memphis and East Carolina. ``We'll need a couple of go-rounds on that,'' he said. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/8/127842