Women's Soccer . September 15, 2023

No. 9 Gamecocks Open SEC Play with 3-1 Win Over Vanderbilt

Game #1

COLUMBIA, SC – The No. 9 ranked South Carolina women’s soccer team (7-1-1, 1-0-0) took down the previously undefeated Commodores (5-1-3, 0-1-0) Friday night 3-1 to open up SEC play. The Gamecocks saw three first-half goals and outshot Vanderbilt 11-7.

HOW IT HAPPENED

South Carolina fans saw a possession battle between the two teams in the first five minutes, with both sides getting their piece of the ball before the Gamecocks took control
Sophomore Shae O’Rourke put up the first chance of the game in the eighth minute, only to be met by a save from Vanderbilt keeper Kate Devine
Just two minutes later, junior Megan Spiehs took advantage of her own volley and sunk it into the back left of the net with her left foot to put South Carolina up 1-0 early in the first half. It was the first goal for Spiehs this season and the fourth of her career
The Gamecocks turned on the boosters, scoring their second of the game just 3 minutes later when senior Corinna Zullo knocked it in on a huge pass from Cat Barry out on the far right side. The goal was her first of the year and lucky No. 13 of her career
The action didn’t stop there as O’Rourke tallied her fifth of the season in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a turnover by the Commodores just outside the 18 and sending it past Devine to the far left corner
Leading 3-0 coming into the second half the Gamecocks continued their attack, taking four more shots against Vanderbilt but were unable to grab a fourth goal after a few close calls
The Commodores took away the clean sheet for South Carolina, scoring with less than a minute and a half left in the game after Courtney Jones knocked one in off a serve from a corner
Fifth-year keeper Heather Hinz tallied one save

UP NEXT

South Carolina will hit the road for the first time in two weeks, making its way to Kentucky to take on the Wildcats on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to follow along with in-game updates on Twitter and Instagram, @GamecockWSoccer.