March 23, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – After finishing last year with an 8-10-2 record, the South Carolina women’s soccer team has regrouped during spring practice drills with a passion and desire to become a better team. Carolina has sprung forward with a strong attitude of being a top team in the SEC and earning a NCAA Tournament berth for the 2005 season.
“We have done a good job to work on the mistakes we made in the fall and have played consistently with intensity and an aggressiveness,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “The players have a desire to go to the goal and not give up things. We are keeping on teams and putting the pressure on their end of the net.”
The success is evident in Carolina’s sterling 4-0 record during the spring scrimmage season. The Gamecocks have put together victories over Wake Forest (1-0), College of Charleston (2-0), NC State (3-0) and the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy club (2-0). With wins building up each week, the Gamecocks expect to build off the streak and use the experience as momentum when the 2005 fall season starts up in August.
“The hard work is paying off and it is good to finally see some results,” said midfielder Ashley Kirk, the 2004 SEC Freshman of the Year. “It was frustrating to sit back and think about last season and how well we would play but the results were not there. This spring it has been different and things are starting to click, practices are going well and we are having success.”
Although it was a transition last season with 13 newcomers to the team, the makeup and attitude of the players remained positive and has shown as the team has grown on the field and developed an effective style of play.
“The desire of our veteran players has excited the younger players,” said Coach Smith. “The team has molded together and you can see it on the field. They really support each other.”
Leading the way for Carolina is co-captain Amanda Thurber, who will enter her senior season in the fall. Thurber continues to excel on the offensive end with a passion for the game and a drive to help the garnet and black in every fashion. It is veteran leadership from Thurber as well as co-captains Kimmy Criss and Jackie Welch that is expected as Carolina makes that rise to the top. Criss, Thurber and Welch were members of Coach Smith’s first full season recruiting class and have been positive examples and role models as student-athletes.
“Our intensity has increased on the field and as a team we have grown closer,” said Thurber. “I think we have learned from last year when our season ended too soon. The talent is there and we have spent more time on the field together and have a better understanding of each other.”
Carolina reached the SEC Tournament in 2002 and 2003 and progress continues to be made. Last season the Gamecocks had their first win over a ranked opponent since 1998 when Carolina earned a 2-0 victory over Clemson. The Gamecocks realize the next step is a journey and berth into the NCAA Tournament.
“The players here now came here to South Carolina to help build the program and to be a top team in the SEC,” said Coach Smith. “They know what it takes to be successful, were disappointed in the fall and have made a step forward this spring to be a better team. They take more ownership and responsibility to press forward and move on from last year.”
Thurber agrees and is excited to look ahead and vision a 2005 season full of victories and milestones.
“We haven’t had an NCAA tournament bid since I’ve been here. We’ve always been `that’ team, the one that is too close but doesn’t get there. I know I want to leave here as an NCAA tournament team.”
A strong core and nucleus of players returns for next season. Thurber, Welch, Criss and redshirt senior Stacey Zelek represent the 2005 senior class. Adding to the quartet of seniors are juniors M.A. Foster, Erin Geldhof and Jessi Swaim. Also benefiting Carolina is the return of 13 players, who will enter their sophomore seasons. With a year of experience under their belt, all are eager to get back on the field and help USC.
“We have made improvements and know what the next step is,” said midfield/forward Jessi Swaim. “Things seem more possible and we are excited by how we have improved as a team and what we are capable of accomplishing. We want to take the program to a level its has never been before.”
