Upstate Ends A-Sun Slate At Stetson, FGCU
10/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 28, 2008
Spartanburg, S.C. -USC Upstate closes out the 2008 A-Sun schedule Friday and Sunday in Florida, taking on Stetson Friday night at 7:00 in DeLand before heading even further South to play Florida Gulf Coast Sunday afternoon at 12:30 in Fort Myers. Spartan fans can watch Friday's game at Stetson live on the internet through Hatter Vision and get live statistical updates via Stetson's official Athletics Web site, www.gohatters.com. Upstate and Stetson have played each other just one time in the series, a 1-0 victory for the Hatters last year in Spartanburg. Upstate and Florida Gulf Coast have also played just once in the series, a 4-0 Eagle victory a year ago in Spartanburg.
Upstate enters the weekend with a 2-13-0 overall record and a 1-6-0 mark with three points in the A-Sun. The Spartans claimed a 3-1 win over Mercer Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at County University Soccer Stadium in Spartanburg. Alex Garcev leads the Spartans in scoring with eight points. Peter Davis tops the Spartans in goal with a 2.00 goals against average. He has started each of the last three games in place of the injured Patrick Regna.
Stetson enters the weekend with a 6-6-2 overall record and a 3-3-1 mark with three points in the A-Sun. The Hatters have won three of their last five A-Sun games on the season. Eugene Starikov leads Stetson in scoring with 12 points on four goals and four assists. Mark Galizia has played the majority of minutes in goal this season and owns a 1.29 goals against average.
Florida Gulf Coast enters the weekend with a 4-10-1 overall record and a 2-5-0 mark with six points in the A-Sun. The Egales have won two of their last four A-Sun games, including a 2-1 win at Lipscomb Sunday. Scott Harrison leads FGCU in scoring with 11 points on three goals and five assists. Adam Glick is the man between the pipes for the Eagles and owns a 1.53 goals against average.
Looking Back At Mercer
Upstate scored three goals for the first time since the 3-2 win over Brewton-Parker to start the season as the Spartans took a 3-1 victory over Mercer last Saturday on Senior Day at County University Soccer Stadium. The win broke a 13-game losing streak by Upstate as David Stanbra led the way with a goal and an assist. Alex Garcev notched two assists to help the Upstate cause.
Stanbra Earns A-Sun Weekly Honor
David Stanbra, a senior from Worcester, England, was selected as the A-Sun Player of the Week in leading Upstate to a 3-1 win over Mercer. He finished the game with a goal and an assist, scoring the first Spartan goal and assisting on the third, to lead Upstate to the victory. He is the first men's soccer player to earn weekly honors this season and the third overall. Troy Simon was named the A-Sun Player of the Week and Jason McCabe was named the A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week after the Spartans' two-game sweep of Lipscomb and Belmont last year.
Hooks To Coach 400th Game
In a standout coaching career, Upstate head coach Greg Hooks will reach another milestone number Friday when he coaches his 400th career game. Hooks owns a 276-100-23 record in 21 years as a head coach.
Injury Report
Upstate has been hit hard by injuries in 2008 and the news got even worse following Saturday's win over Mercer. Already playing without defensive starter and captain, Nick Buxton, for the remainder of the season, Upstate will have to face the last three games without the services of starting midfielder Timo Foerster. Foerster broke his clavicle shortly after scoring the eventual game-winning goal Saturday.
Spartans Strong At Home
Since moving into County University Soccer Stadium, the Upstate men's soccer program has been tough to beat. Actually, since the inception of the program in 1980, the Spartans have been stout on the Spartanburg campus. Upstate is an impressive 57-17-3 at the friendly confines of County University Soccer Stadium for a winning percentage of .760. Overall, Upstate is 225-50-13 at home for an .804 winning percentage in Spartanburg. Upstate played its first season in the quad behind the Administrative Building prior to moving to historic Rifle Field in 1981. The Spartans (then, the Rifles) tallied a 162-30-10 record for an .802 winning percentage at Rifle Field.
Hooks An Accomplished Field Leader
USC Upstate head coach Greg Hooks has had an accomplished 21-year coaching career. He has a career record of 276-100-23 with coaching stints at Spartanburg Methodist (1985), Lees-McRae (1986-87), University of Charleston (1991-94) and USC Upstate (1995-present). He started the programs at both Lees-McRae and University of Charleston, leading both programs to national rankings. He took over the Upstate program in 1995 and coached the team to an appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship game and returned the team to the title game in 1998. He has led Upstate to 189 victories, five Peach Belt Conference regular season championships, six Peach Belt Conference Tournament titles, and five NCAA Tournament appearances. Hooks ended his reign in NCAA Division II as the division's second winningest coach all-time and currently ranks 20th all-time in the history of the NCAA, regardless of division standing.
Spartan Soccer - A Story Of Success
While the USC Upstate Athletics Department has had a storied history of success throughout its existence, the men's soccer program has achieved success on a more consistent level than any other program at the University. Upstate men's soccer finished third in the NAIA National Tournament three straight years from 1983-85 and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in 16 years in the NCAA Division II. The Spartans claimed seven regular season Peach Belt Conference championships, nine Peach Belt Conference Tournament titles, and advanced to the championship game of the league tournament 14 times in 16 years.
