Gamecocks Set to Clash with Hoyas in NCAA Tournament
#18 Women’s Soccer vs. #13 Georgetown
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 18th-ranked University of South Carolina women’s soccer team (11-4-0, 6-2-0 SEC) is set to take on No. 13-seed Georgetown (11-0-1, 7-0-1 Big East) in the Second Round of the 2020-21 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament on May 1, at 6 p.m. This year’s tournament has been reduced from 64 teams to 48 teams with the top 16 seeds receiving a bye. The match is being played at J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex and can be streamed on NCAA.com.
LAST TIME OUT – MONTANA
No. 18 South Carolina (11-4-0, 6-2-0 SEC) defeated Montana (9-2-0, 7-1-0 Big Sky) 1-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on April 28. Freshman forward Corinna Zullo scored the gamewinner while fellow freshman Taylor Fox earned the shutout to help Carolina advance to the second round for the fifth-straight year.
“We’re obviously very excited to be moving on, it was a hard-fought battle and we’re glad to be on the winning end of things,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said. “You get here, and everyone is so excited and Montana gave us everything they had. A huge credit to them for making it hard on us. We found a way and battled through it. We’re very proud of the team and the effort tonight and we’re glad to be moving on.”
Zullo’s goal is her fifth of the season and her third game-winning goal of her rookie campaign. The Flemington, N.J. native, was assisted by senior Ryan Gareis in the 56th minute. The goal was setup by Gareis flanking down the left side of the field before sending the ball into the box where Zullo headed it home.
CAROLINA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Gamecocks hold a 18-12-3 mark all-time at the NCAA Tournament. South Carolina has advanced out of the second round in three of the past four years. Carolina has reached the College Cup once in program history back in 2017 and has reached the NCAA Quarterfinals three times (2016, 2017, 2019).
SCOUTING GEORGETOWN
Georgetown (11-0-1, 7-0-1 Big East) claimed the Big East automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after its undefeated regular season paired with its 2-1 tournament title win over Butler. The Hoyas are one of just four teams in the country to hold a 0.750 shutout percentage this season, the team also ranks fourth in corner kicks, registering an average of 9.08 per match. Sophomore Gia Vicari has led the team offensively with 10 goals this season along with four assists. Senior midfielder Jenna Menta will also be a factor with four goals and a team-leading eight assists this season. The Hoyas have allowed just three goals this season, with Alyssa Navarrete and Lauren Gallagher splitting time in most of the team’s matches this season with the duo combining for a goals against average of 0.24.
FOX AND ZULLO JOIN ELITE COMPANY
Freshman goalkeeper Taylor Fox joined elite company on April 28, becoming the first Gamecock to secure a solo shutout in her NCAA Tournament debut since Sabrina D’Angelo in 2011 against Texas. Fox made a pair of saves for the Gamecocks in the 1-0 win over Montana. Corinna Zullo became the latest true freshman to score a game-winning goal in her NCAA Tournament debut since teammate Ryan Gareis did in 2017 against Alabama State.
FRESHMAN PHENOMS
The Gamecocks have had an influx of young talent this season with over half (16) of Carolina’s 30 goals this season coming from true freshmen. Catherine Barry leads the way with six this season while Corinna Zullo has five and Rylee Forster and Ranya Senhaji all have multiple goals this season. Midfielder Brianna Behm added her name to the freshman scoring list against Elon, increasing the percentage of points from freshman up to 46.9 percent this season, the second highest percentage in the SEC behind just Texas A&M (48.1). Carolina is second for the most goals in the SEC by freshmen with 16 while Texas A&M has 17 from their rookies. Catherine Barry also tied the program’s freshman game-winning goals record, scoring her fourth against Elon to tie herself with Jennie Ondo (1996).
GAMECOCKS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORD BOOKS
With much of the Gamecocks success in the NCAA Tournament coming in the last few years a number of current NCAA Tournament program records are in range of being broken. Riley Tanner is tied for second in program history with three goals in the NCAA Tournament, all coming in the 2019 tournament, and is tied for fifth in total points with seven. Lauren Chang also is tied for ninth in career points in the NCAA Tournament with four. The 2020-21 senior class currently has the highest NCAA Tournament winning percentage in program history at 75.0 percent (9-3-0), just ahead of the 2019 senior class who ended with a winning percentage of 73.3 at 11-4-0.
ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT RANKED
The latest United Soccer Coaches top-25 rankings have the Gamecocks at No. 18 in the country after ending the spring season 3-1-0, the latest result coming against Clemson on April 10. South Carolina has been ranked in the last 14 national polls that have now returned to the top 25 format after only have the top 15 during the fall portion of the season. Carolina has been in the last 58 United Soccer Coaches Polls that have used the top 25 format.
Four other SEC teams are inside the latest top 25 with Arkansas sitting at No. 7 followed by Texas A&M at No. 11 and Vanderbilt at No. 16 and capped off by Ole Miss at No. 24.
UP NEXT
The winner of the South Carolina-Georgetown match will take on the No. 4 seed TCU. The third-round match will take place on May 5, at 6 p.m. in Wilson, NC at the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex and streamed on NCAA.com.
QUICK NOTES VS. GEORGETOWN
– The matchup between South Carolina and Georgetown is the first between the two programs
– The match will be held in Wilson, NC, in part with the rest of the 2020-21 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament that will be entirely done in the state of North Carolina from April 27-May 17
– Georgetown is 12-8-4 in 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and have reached the College Cup twice in 2016 and 2018
– The Gamecocks NCAA Tournament Second Round appearance is the fifth-straight for the program, the longest streak in school history
– Head Coach Shelley Smith is 18-11-3 in the NCAA Tournament in her career with Dave Nolan holding a record of 12-8-4 in his career
