#5 Clemson defeats South Carolina 4-3, in Season Opener

Aug. 25, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Dane Richards scored two goals including the game-winner at the 82:28 mark in leading fifth-ranked Clemson to a 4-3 win over South Carolina in a men’s intercollegiate soccer match at Columbia, SC Friday night.

Richards scored both of his goals in the final 18:30 of the match to lead Clemson to the victory. He also finished the match with one assist. Frederico Moojen had one goal and one assist in the match for the Tigers.

It was the season opener for both teams. The Tigers are 10-1-1 in the last 12 matches between the two schools since the 1996 season. Tiger Head Coach Trevor Adair is 10-2-1 against the Gamecocks during his Clemson tenure.

The match was played in front of a crowd of 5,009 spectators.

The Gamecocks scored first in the 26th minute on a goal by David Smith. The Arlington, Texas, product picked up a loose ball just inside the 18-yard box and one-timed it right to left for the score.

Clemson tied things up in the 41st minute when junior Mark Buccholz scored on a free kick.

The Gamecocks regained the lead just before halftime. Senior Rob Charest knocked the ball into the back of the net from the far post. Freshmen Schuyler Reardon and Cory Lewis were credited with assists on the goal.

The Tigers wasted little time tying the game back up at the 45:43 mark when Frederico Moojen tallied a goal off a corner kick that was played wide. Hector Quintanar and Richards assisted on the play.

Less than five minutes later, Smith scored again for the Gamecocks. Freshman Jeff Scannella played a wide corner kick to Smith and he bent the ball into the top left corner of the goal.

The score remained 3-2 until the 72nd minute when Richards scored his first goal of the match. Richards picked up a loose ball and kicked it into an empty net.

In the 83rd minute, Moojen passed the ball to Richards, creating a one-on-one situation with Carolina goalkeeper Mike Gustavson. Richards knocked the ball into the net for the game winner. Gustavson finished with two saves for South Carolina and Marfuggi had four stops for Clemson.

“It was a great game for the spectators,” said Clemson Head Coach Dane Richards played a great game with two goals and one assist. We played lots better in the second half. We showed a lot of character and we never quit. I’m very proud in the way we never quit and the way we kept playing hard until we got the victory.”

Clemson 4, South Carolina 3

South Carolina–David Smith (Unassisted) 25:04

Clemson–Mark Buchholz (Unassisted) 40:41

South Carolina–Rob Charest (Cory Lewis, Schuyler Rerdon) 43:27

Clemson–Frederico Moojen (Hector Quitanar, Dane Richards) 45:43

South Carolina–David Smith (Jeff Scannella) 50:00

Clemson–Dane Richards (Unassisted) 71:30

Clemson–Dane Richards (Frederico Moojen) 82:28

Shots: Clemson 17, USC 14

Corner Kicks: Clemson 8, USC 3

Saves: Phil Marfuggi (CU) 4, Mike Gustavson (USC) 2

Fouls: Clemson 20, USC 15