Aug. 31, 2006
Columbia, S.C. – Sophomore forward Felicia Schroeder scored twice in the second half to help lift the USC women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Francis Marion on Thursday evening at Stone Stadium. The win was Carolina’s first of the year and improves the Gamecocks’ record to 1-2 while the loss drops Francis Marion to 0-3 on the year. Carolina returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 1 pm to host James Madison.
“We improved again on our performance,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “We did a good job to finish, had better services and used the flank play much better. They (Francis Marion) are a team that defends very well; they are organized and hard to break down. We found ways to get around and get in behind them and that was, again, an improvement on some of the things we did (last week). It was a step in the right direction. We were knocking on their door, getting chances, they made saves, and we didn’t give up. Finally, a couple got in for us.”
USC dominated on the offensive end creating many chances with 22 shots including 13 on goal. After a scoreless first half, the Gamecocks were able to get on the scoreboard for the first time in the 2006 season as Schroeder scored for the first time at 68:13. Inside the box, Schroeder was able to get her head on a pass from midfielder Monica Hogan to send a shot to the left corner post for a goal and a 1-0 USC lead. Schroeder wasn’t done there though as she scored her second header goal of the match in the 81st minute as midfielder Annie Galloway played a cross ball from near the right end-line that found Schroeder inside the six-yard box, where she drilled another goal to give the Gamecocks a two-goal cushion.
“They were good timed runs, good services that set up Felicia, and she did a great job to finish,” said Smith. “Against a team like this, we are served out wide, and we need the players in the box to get on the end of the services. We had a lot of other players with close opportunities too, they didn’t quite fall but we got the two from Felicia.”
Francis Marion made a late run at the Gamecocks and scored with just one second remaining as a shot from Brandi Sutphin before time expired went high and above the reach of USC goalkeeper Laura Armstrong. Armstrong had five saves in goal for the Gamecocks with Francis Marion keeper Jacque Sutphin making 10 saves for the Patriots. Despite the wet field conditions, both keepers and teams played well to control the game.
“You have to work harder to get in front of the ball, be aware of the ball skipping,” said Smith. “You have to make sure you are aggressive in the attack, for the keeper it is very hard to handle. The ball comes in, you have to follow-up, it skips, their keeper did a great job to keep the ball out of the net and to handle the shots we put on her.”
Live audio broadcast and live gametracker stats for South Carolina’s match on Sunday vs. James Madison will be available at uscsports.com. Sunday is Youth Day at Stone Stadium with all kids wearing Youth jerseys receiving $1 admission.
