In trying to rebound from its first losing season in 14 years, the South Carolina men's soccer team will look to a top-notch 2010 signing class for help.

And for the Gamecocks it's always started with defense.

The defensive line gained a key pickup in transfer Mike Mangotic from UNC-Greensboro. He started all 19 games for the Spartans and was a member of the 2009 Southern Conference All-Freshman team.

Mangotic enrolled at USC in January and participated in spring practice, so he will be expected to have a good grasp of the system when fall camp begins in August.

Multiple 2010 signees, including JUCO transfer Janny Rivera, Chipper Root (rated No. 27 player nationally by one major web site) and Trevor Hubbard, are being eyed for immediate help.

Rivera, a product of the IMG Academy, was a NJCAA First Team All-American at Louisburg College and led his school to the national semifinals.

"He's an outstanding player," Berson said.

Root, a midfielder/forward from Chapel Hill, NC, scored 31 goals and had 23 assists as a senior to earn a place as an ESPNRise.com Second Team All-American.

"He's an out-and-out attacking player," Berson said. "He can play as second forward, he can play as a wide midfielder and he can play as an attacking midfielder. He is a very tough, feisty, slashing player. He is going to bring a lot of excitement to attack."

Hubbard, nearing graduation from Highland Park High School in Dallas, Tex., was one spot behind Root on the TopDrawerSoccer.com 2010 Top 100 list at No. 28.

"He can play just about any spot in the midfield," Berson said. "He's a very technical, tough, quick aggressive, hard-nosed player. He brings a great pedigree. He has played at a very high level. He's going to help us for sure."

All three players are being counted on by Berson to contribute right away at a position that requires some new depth in 2010.

"Some of those guys are going to have to take a lot of responsibility either in a starting role or in support," Berson said. "They're definitely going to be counted on to help us in midfield. That's an area where we're going to have to get some help from our signing class."

Although the forward line is not as much of a concern for Berson in 2010, he's looking for DaCosta (Antoine) Parris, a 6-foot-2 forward from Spring Valley High School, to possibly contribute in 2010 as a striker.

"He's a very good player, but he'll need some time to adjust to the college game," Berson said. "But he has all the physical tools to be an outstanding player in our conference."

In addition to Root, USC signed three other players from North Carolina - forward Jimmy Johnson (Jacksonville), midfielder/defender John Patrick Rafferty (Raleigh) and Will McGinnis (Charlotte).

USC beat out North Carolina and N.C. State for multiple players, Berson said.

"We recruit in a lot of different areas and we take opportunities when we see them," Berson said. "It's not like we're strangers up there. We pick players out of North Carolina on a pretty regular basis."

Johnson was a scoring machine in high school with 52 goals and 21 assists as a senior. He was a 2009 NSCAA High School All-American, 2009 NSCAA Adidas N.C. Player of the Year and a two-time area player of the year.

Johnson is a product of the CASL Chelsea FC Academy, a highly regarded club soccer program.

Rafferty earned all-state honors in his final three years at Sanderson High School.

"He has great presence on the ball," Berson said. "We'll just have to see where he fits in and helps us the quickest. It should be either outside back or outside midfield."

McGinnis is being targeted as a central midfielder.

Hunter Wyer, a midfielder/defender from Southside Christian Academy in Greenville, SC, joins Parris as the two Palmetto State products in the signing class.

"He's a very good athletes and strong left-sided player," Berson said.

Midfielder Stephen Anderson from Columbus, Ga. is the lone Peach State product in the signing class, while midfielder Jason Chapman from Spartanburg is gaining experience in the academy league in North Carolina.

"We saw Stephen here in camp and he did very well," Berson said. "He's a technical, skillful player with the ball and has very good vision."

Berson views the class as one of the deepest USC has signed in a long time.

"It's a class that has a lot of promise and a lot of ability," Berson said. "We have a lot to work with. We have to see how quickly they grasp college soccer. It's a pretty big class. Last year's class was fairly small."