Berson leads Gamecocks into brutal 2015 campaign

The South Carolina men’s soccer team will begin their 2015 season against Mercer on August 28 at home in Stone Stadium.

After a solid 2014 season, the Gamecocks finished 10-10-0 with a 3-5-0 conference record.

Head coach Mark Berson seems enthusiastic about the upcoming season, challenging his team with a rigorous schedule including eight matchups with teams that made it to the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

“I think the team left the spring semester physically in really good shape, tactically sharper, really having a clearer idea of the number of principles that we want to get across, and I think there was great momentum and morale,” Berson said. “I think they were really excited about the fall."

South Carolina will host nine regular season matchups, including Conference USA contests against Florida Atlantic, FIU, and the conference closer against the ODU Monarchs. The Gamecocks will face off against rival Clemson on the road on September 4.

This team is shaping up with the addition of several new players, a class Berson continually describes as “versatile” and “attacking.”

This season will feature six new recruits, including All-American midfielder Danny Deakin from Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. Deakin led the division with 16 assists this past season and holds a record of 24 goals and 23 assists overall in his two years in Pennsylvania.CQ MV

“Danny plays as an attacking midfielder,” Berson said. “He's a guy that brings in a lot of experience and ability,and is a guy that we think will have an immediate impact in ourteam.”

Other new faces include Yanis Fekih from Paris, France, and Ben Davidson of Texas.

“Our recruiting has been very good," said Berson. "I'm really pleased with the group we have coming in and I think the returning group has done a good job.”

The strong incoming class combined with the ability of returning players and remarkable coaches indicates the likelihood of an exciting season for the Gamecocks.

This will be the 38th season for the team and for head coach Mark Berson, who has been with the program since its inception in 1978. More recently, Coach Berson earned a spot in the South Carolina Letterman’s Hall of Fame, joining six of his former players.

The team returns to campus on August 11 and will begin practice the following day. South Carolina will host three exhibitions against Gardner-Webb on August 16, Winthrop on August 19 and Furman on August 23 before heading into the regular season.