Fort Dorchester's Eads and L'Amoreaux ready to shine in Clash of Carolinas

They are teammates and roommates. But the reason why Wes Eads and Devin L'Amoreaux are playing in today's Clash of the Carolinas is because they are the top 1-2 scoring punch in the Palmetto State.

The athletes played for Fort Dorchester High School and enjoyed stellar careers, earning just about every honor imaginable. Eads had 62 points his senior year with 25 goals and 12 assists, which placed him at No. 5 in the state among Class AAAA scoring leaders. L'Amoreaux tallied 23 goals and 15 assists for 61 points, which put him at No. 6.

Both players signed with the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and have enrolled in summer classes and taken part in soccer drills. They are roommates this summer, sharing an apartment in Columbia, and will room together in a dormitory once classes commence for fall semester.

They took a break from college life by arriving on Daniel Island to take part in the sixth annual all-star match, which will be held today at Blackbaud Stadium. The games feature the top 12 seniors from North Carolina battling against the best seniors from the Palmetto State. The girls match is slated for 1 p.m. and the boys match is set for 3 p.m.

“It's going to be exciting,” L'Amoreaux said of today's match. “It's great to represent the state of South Carolina in such a big event. It should be quite a game.”

Eads and L'Amoreaux seem to have been playing together forever. They joined up when they were 9 years old and have been teammates ever since. They've been a factor on the Fort Dorchester varsity team since they were freshmen and became the state's dynamic duo last spring when Eads led the state in scoring with 89 points in 22 games. He scored 39 goals and added 11 assists. L'Amoreaux was fifth in the state with 58 points. He scored 21 goals and added 16 assists.

Their talents were rewarded as they received soccer scholarships to USC.

“Playing in the Clash allowed us to have the weekend off from USC,” Eads said. “Attending USC is great, and having Devin as a roommate makes it even better. We're best friends on and off the field. On the field, I know what he's going to do, how he's going to react, because we have played together for so long.”

Said L'Amoreaux: “He's like a brother to me. It's good to go to college and make new friends. But it's also good to have someone you've known for a long time to help you through. I know I can rely on him.”

Eads is planning to major is business accounting, while L'Amoreaux is studying biological sciences. He hopes to become a doctor.

Five other local players were selected for the South Carolina boys team: Trent Rieflin, Wando; Hunter Greer, Wando; Joe Amon, Summerville; Brian Byrne, Bishop England; and Davis Michaelson, Academic Magnet.

Four local players were selected to play on the South Carolina girls team: Emily Gossen, Academic Magnet; Nora Bishop, Wando; Taylor Coleman, West Ashley; and Paige Urig, Wando.

The boys' series is tied at 1-1-3, while North Carolina leads the girls' series 4-1-0.

Follow Philip M. Bowman on Twitter: @pandcphil.