Aug. 26, 2004

The South Carolina women’s soccer team will get its 2004 campaign started in earnest on Friday night when it hosts Georgia State in the season opener at Stone Stadium beginning at 7 p.m.

As the 2004 season unfolds, the University of South Carolina women’s soccer program strives to reach new heights with a strong nucleus of returning players and an exciting corp of newcomers.

With back-to-back appearances in the SEC Tournament under the belt, South Carolina expects to compete at the highest level in attempt to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1998 season.

“We have a very young team stepping onto the field this fall,” said Head Coach Shelley Smith. “We are excited for this young class to join our talented and committed group of returning players.”

The 2004 squad features several top returning players including senior defender Sarah Lentz, an All-SEC selection last season and a leader in the defensive backfield. One of three captains, Lentz also gained valuable experience over the summer playing club soccer in Iceland.

Lentz is joined by junior co-captains Kimmy Criss and Amanda Thurber, who return as leaders both on and off the field. Criss and Lentz lead a strong and experienced defensive backfield that allowed under one goal per match last year. Thurber leads the Carolina center midfield attack and will look to lead the offense. Also returning is sophomore MA Foster, who led USC in offense last year with 14 points and earned All-Freshman SEC honors.

Along with 13 returning players on the sideline, the Gamecocks also boast their largest recruiting class in four years with 14 freshman on the field.

“Our expectations are high for our younger players,” said Coach Smith. “It will take some work this season but we are confident that this team will be up for meeting the challenges that lie ahead. With leadership from returning players like Lentz, Criss and Thurber, we expect this young team to turn some heads.”

FORWARDS

Senior Ashley Williams and junior Abi Markham are the top returners for Carolina up top. After struggling with injuries in 2003, both players are expected to return healthy as offensive threats. Foster will see time up top and at midfield as well as the sophomore looks to continue the success she had as a freshman at Carolina.

Carolina also adds newcomers Lexi Randazzo and Courtney Cobbs to the depth at forward. Ranzazzo’s speed and attacking ability will get her scoring chances and Cobbs’ talent will get her time up top or at a midfield position.

MIDFIELDERS

Despite the loss of starters Erica Bowie and Melissa Hutson, Carolina still boasts several returning players at midfield including junior Amanda Thurber. Thurber returns to her spot at center midfield after starting 20 games last year. Thurber is the playmaker on the team with strong technical ability and excellent vision. Thurber will be joined in the middle by junior Jackie Welch and sophomore Lauren Skinner.

A defender the past two seasons at Carolina, Welch may find time in a central mid role as well as her defensive backfield position.

“Jackie’s versatility has allowed her to compete for a majority of the time in the back, but has spent some time up front and in the midfield last season and this past spring. She is a force wherever she finds herself on the field.

With one season under her belt, Skinner also looks to be a force in the center of play. A dominating presence winning balls in the air and a physical player, Skinner will play a more defensive role in the middle.

Adding to the experience in the middle are several bright newcomers in freshmen Ashley Kirk, Erin Sullivan and Whitney Briggs. All have spent time throughout their careers at midfield and will compete for time this year.

“Erin Sullivan has scored an impressive amount of goals in her high school career and is expected to continue to be a goalsoring threat,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “Ashley Kirk has spent time in the ODP and club programs and brings an exciting dynamic play to the field. Briggs is a versatile player and gives our coaching staff several options. Her style of play will complement the rest of the midfielders.

The outside midfield positions also feature several returning players and newcomers. Sophomore MA Foster, who also spent time at forward, gained experience in the fall and spring seasons of her freshman campaign. Foster, senior Ashley Gosnell, and sophomores Jenna Ball and Jessi Swaim bring speed to the wide positions for Carolina.

Also competing for time out wide will be freshmen Courtney Cobbs, Anne Galloway, Sara Jane Harris and Stacy Maxwell. All bring experience from their respective club teams.

“Those players are expected to bring more creativity to the attack and create more scoring opportunities,” said Coach Smith.

DEFENDERS

Carolina’s back four returns much experience from last year with co-captains Sarah Lentz and Kimmy Criss leading the way. Both players and Jackie Welch started all 21 games in the back and helped lead the USC defense. With Welch maybe gaining some time at midfield, other returning players are expected to contribute including junior Stacey Zelek and sophomore Erin Geldhof. Zelek gained some time over the spring season at center back, replacing Ali Jarrow and Geldhof did well to replace Welch in the back four.

Freshmen Katie Derden, Kali Neumann and Kimmy Gillespie also add to the defensive depth with experience and are very strong on the ball.

GOALKEEPERS

There will be a new face between the posts with the graduation of goalkeeper Elise Matthews, who played every game last year for the Gamecocks.

Three freshman will vie for time at goalkeeper for Carolina. Freshman Lindsay Thorstenson will don a a Garnet & Black uniform after knee surgery sidelined her in 2003. Thorstenson was epected to play last year behind Matthews but was not able to because of her injury. In addition to Thorstenson are goalkeepers Laura Armstrong and Monica Sanchez.

“All three have a strong presence in and around their goal,” said Coach Smith. “Their abilities should hide any evidence of their lack of game experience at the collegiate level.”

SCHEDULE

The 2004 schedule for the Gamecocks features 20 matches, including 11 at Stone Stadium. South Carolina faces a difficult schedule, including eight teams that advanced to last year’s NCAA Tournament. Those eight teams are: Clemson, Maryland, Virginia, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Florida.

“Our game schedule is very strong in addition to the competitiveness we already face in the SEC,” said Coach Smith. “We will face several quality opponents starting things off in September to help us prepare for conference play and give us the ability to prove ourselves against Top 20 opponents. For the first time we will now play everone in the SEC with another weekend of conference play added.”

South Carolina will open the season at home on Friday, August 27th versus Georgia State. After road trips to James Madison and Furman, USC will return for its first home weekend of the year with non-conference tilts against Houston and Iowa State. Carolina will then head back on the road for the Virginia Soccer Classic in Charlottesville, Va. as ACC foes Maryland and Virgina await.

The Gamecocks close out the non-conference schedule then at home with two matches, including a Wednesday night matchup vs. in-state rival Clemson at 7 p.m and a Sunday afternoon matinee vs. Charlotte.

The SEC season begins on Friday, September 24 as Carolina travels to Auburn with a Sunday match at Alabama. Home conference play begins the first weekend of October with USC hosting Georgia and defending SEC champion Tennessee. After road trips to Vanderbilt and Kentucky, the Gamecocks will again return home to battle Ole Miss and Mississippi State. USC will travel to Arkansas and host LSU before closing out the regular season on Friday, October 29 vs. the Florida Gators.

For the second consecutive year the SEC tournament will be held in Orange Beach, Ala. This year’s tournament will begin on Thursday, November 4.