Green Wave girls’ soccer coach Bop Polk will help lead the South Carolina all-stars into battle during the 2009 Clash of the Carolinas.
Sponsored by Columbia United FC, the third annual event will be held July 11 at Daniel Island's Blackbaud Stadium - home of the USL First Division Charleston Battery. The all-star game features 18 of the top boys and girls seniors from the Palmetto State and a like contingent of players from the state of North Carolina.
The "Clash" is the only interstate soccer all-star rivalry of its kind in the nation. In the boys’ series, the Sandlappers and Tar Heels have battled to a pair of draws and in the girls’ series, each team has claimed a victory in two meetings.
Following the prep matches that day, the Battery will host the Carolina RailHawks of Cary, N.C., in a USL First Division tilt that will kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Joining Polk on the sidelines will be Irmo coach Mike Mauldin. Their team features two players who led teams to state titles this spring – Bishop England goalkeeper Erika Christensen and Mauldin midfielder Sarah Schaidle. Christensen is one of only two Lowcountry representatives on the girls 2009 squad. The other is Wando defender Caitlin Moquin.
Other members of the team come from Travelers Rest, Spartanburg, T.L. Hana, Dutch Fork, Irmo, Airport, South Aiken, Byrnes, Woodmont, Southside Christian, J.L. Mann and Lexington high schools.
The South Carolina boys’ Clash team will be coached by Billy Andrews of West Florence and Carlos Osorio of Dorman. It features three athletes who helped their team to a state title this spring –Northwestern defender Robbie Benson and midfielder Enzo Martinez and Bishop England forward George Khoury.
In addition to Khoury, Wando midfielder Ralph Lundy and Academic Magnet goalkeeper Alex Rieflin will represent the Lowcountry. Other players hail from Socastee, J.L. Mann, Irmo, Dreher, Greenville, White Knoll, Riverside, Eastside, Mauldin and Fort Mill high schools.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.