S*1088 Concurrent Resolution, By Giese
 A Concurrent Resolution to congratulate the University of South Carolina
 Varsity Soccer Team and Coach Mark Berson for reaching the NCAA National
 Soccer Championship Finals, for their outstanding 1993 Season, and for their
 hard work, dedication, and determination; and to commend Coach Berson, the
 founder and head coach of the Varsity Soccer Program, for his leadership and
 commitment to excellence in the development of the Soccer Program at the
 University and for the outstanding record that the team has developed over its
 sixteen-year history.

   01/26/94  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-5
   01/26/94  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-2

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA VARSITY SOCCER TEAM AND COACH MARK BERSON FOR REACHING THE NCAA NATIONAL SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS, FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING 1993 SEASON, AND FOR THEIR HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND DETERMINATION; AND TO COMMEND COACH BERSON, THE FOUNDER AND HEAD COACH OF THE VARSITY SOCCER PROGRAM, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCCER PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY AND FOR THE OUTSTANDING RECORD THAT THE TEAM HAS DEVELOPED OVER ITS SIXTEEN-YEAR HISTORY.

Whereas, the University of South Carolina Varsity Soccer Team, coached by Mark Berson, played the University of Virginia for the NCAA National Soccer Championships December 5, 1993, at Davidson College before a collegiate soccer record crowd of 10,549 fans; and

Whereas, the Gamecocks played a strong match against Virginia in USC's first ever appearance in the National Soccer finals coming up with a valiant hard-fought 2-0 loss following a record season and an outstanding showing in the national playoffs; and

Whereas, the USC Varsity Gamecock soccer team finished the season with a 16-4-4 record marking the sixth time in school history that the Gamecocks have won at least sixteen matches; tallied a school at home record of 10-0-1 for a .955 winning percentage, the highest won/loss percentage at Columbia in a single year; captured the Metro Conference title with a 4-0-1 record in South Carolina's inaugural season with the league; and for the fourth time won the 7th annual MetLife Classic Tournament Title; this year's winning record continues a streak in which the Gamecocks have compiled a winning record in every season since 1984, ten years straight, and marks the fifteenth winning season in the program's sixteen-year history; and

Whereas, the Gamecocks National Soccer Championship playoff performances were a continuation of the team's outstanding skill, determination, and teamwork in that this was the second time in the last six years that USC made it to the Final Four; scored a school record for goals in a NCAA playoff match with six goals against Air Force; and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time overall and the eighth appearance in the past nine years, tops among South Region squads; and

Whereas, throughout this year's season and the championship playoffs the team was lead by Coach Mark Berson who has a winning record in his own right; Coach Berson, head coach of the University soccer program, founded the program sixteen years ago and during his coaching history has a 230-73-29 record (.736 winning percentage); he was South Region "Coach of the Year" in 1984, 1985, and 1988 and has coached many outstanding players and national and olympic teams; and

Whereas, the outstanding Gamecock soccer for this season and in the National Championship Playoffs is due to and clearly matched by great teamwork and superb performances by many individual players, all of whom along with Coach Berson are to be commended and congratulated. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina by this resolution congratulates the University of South Carolina Varsity Soccer Team and Coach Mark Berson for reaching the NCAA National Soccer Championship finals, for their outstanding 1993 season, and for their hard work, dedication, and determination; and to commend Coach Berson, the founder and head coach of the varsity soccer program, for his leadership and commitment to excellence in the development of the soccer program at the University and for the outstanding record that the team has developed over its sixteen-year history.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Coach Mark Berson, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208.