Tigers Defeat South Carolina In Men’s Soccer, 2-1

Oct. 7, 2001

CLEMSON, SC – Steven Rhyne came off the bench and scored a goal and had an assist, while Oguchi Onyewu finished with two assists in leading 14th-ranked Clemson to a 2-1 win over 13th-ranked South Carolina in a men’s intercollegiate soccer match at Clemson, SC Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Clemson improves its record to 7-2 overall, while South Carolina falls to 7-2 this season. Clemson is ranked 14th in the Soccer America poll and 24th in the NSCAA poll. South Carolina is ranked 13th in the latest Soccer America poll and 17th in the NSCAA listing. The Tigers have not lost to South Carolina since 1995. During this time, Clemson is 6-0-1 vs. the Gamecocks. The Tigers defeated the Gamecocks twice during the 1997 season.

South Carolina scored early at the 4:38 mark. Ryan Daley scored his sixth goal of the season with assists by Jordan Quinn and Joey Worthen. This was the first goal South Carolina has scored against Clemson since the 1996 season.

Dimelon Westfield scored at the 34:12 mark to even the score. Oguchi Onyewu flicked the ball to Steven Rhyne. Rhyne passed the ball to Westfield who scored the goal from 12 yards out. This was Westfield’s fifth goal of the season.

Steven Rhyne scored his third goal of the season at the 35:18 mark. Conaway had a long throw in from the left side to the near post. Oguchi Onyewu flicked a header to Rhyne who scored from close range at the right post.

“After South Carolina scored early, I was happy in the way our team stayed composed,” said Clemson Head Coach Trevor Adair. “I was pleased with the way we played in the last 35 minutes of the first half. In the second half of play, we did what we had to do to win. Both teams had chances to score. Doug Warren made some great saves and I was happy to get the result. Steven Rhyne did a great job coming off the bench. I hope he can continue to contribute that way.”

“It was a big game, and I was happy that we were able to win in front of the home crowd,” said Rhyne. We fought and battled in the second half in a big time game. In the goal I scored, the ball bounced my way and it was good timing, good place, and finish, that is what we do everyday in practice.”

Clemson 2, South Carolina 1 South Carolina-Ryan Daley (Jordan Quinn and Joey Worthen) 4:38 Clemson-Dimelon Westfield (Steven Rhyne and Oguchi Onyewu) 34:12 Clemson-Steven Rhyne (Oguchi Onyewu) 35:18 Shots: Clemson 12, South Carolina 11 Corner Kicks: Clemson 4, South Carolina 2 Saves: Doug Warren (CU) 5, Michael Bachmeyer (USC) 2 Fouls: Clemson 19, South Carolina 13 Attendance: 3,417