Sept. 19, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – Sarah Lentz scored her second game-winning goal of the week with 33 seconds remaining in the second overtime to lift the South Carolina women’s soccer team (6-3) to a 2-1 win over Charlotte (0-7) on Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium. Ashley Williams also added her sixth goal of the season as USC improved its home record to 5-0 on the year.
“We did a good job to fight and come back after being down a goal early,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “We know that in overtime what team wants it more is going to be the team that wins the match. I thought we showed a lot of heart and we pressured their defense. We had our chances and Sarah found the net for us. It’s great to get the win and head into conference play on a winning streak.”
Lentz, who scored the game-winning goal on Wednesday night in a win over Clemson, tipped a corner kick from Jessi Swaim into the back of the near post to close the match out for USC. The goal for the senior from Florence, S.C. was her third of the year. All three goals for Lentz have been game-winners.
USC finished the afternoon with a 13-7 shot advantage including five in the second overtime and three from Jessi Swaim and Ashley Williams. Laura Armstrong earned her second consecutive win in goal for USC. Armstrong had three saves on the afternoon.
Charlotte went ahead 1-0 at 22:04 with a goal off a corner kick. Lindsey Beam’s corner kick sailed into the box and was headed into the goal by Liz Ruck to put the 49ers on top 1-0. Both teams finished the first half with four shots as the majority of play was dominated in the midfield.
South Carolina was able to get more pressure on the goal in the second half and found the back of the net at 53:38 with Williams scoring for the Gamecocks. Off a long feed from Courtney Cobbs, Williams burst through the 49ers defense on a breakaway beating Charlotte goalkeeper Shannon Huffman 1 v 1 to tie the match. Williams’ goal now ties her for seventh on the All-Time Gamecock Scoring List with former teammate Lydia Bienias as both players have 34 points.
The Gamecocks controlled both overtimes with several chances on net before Lentz’s goal. Swaim had a shot knocked off the line by a Charlotte defender and Kimmy Gillespie had a header off a corner kick that was saved by Huffman in the net.
“We were able to put ourselves in a position to win the match,” said Coach Smith. “We played for the win and our players stepped up and took control of the match near the end when we needed a goal.”
The Gamecocks now enter SEC play with a road weekend in the state of Alabama. The Gamecocks will face the Auburn Tigers on Friday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET and close out the weekend vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET. USC returns home on Friday, Oct. 1 when the Gamecocks host Georgia at 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium.
