Sept. 14, 2003
Houston, Texas – Freshman Erin Geldhof scored her first goal of the season and senior goalkeeper Elise Matthews made three saves as the South Carolina women’s soccer team tied Houston 1-1 on Sunday afternoon. The tie was both Carolina’s and Houston’s first tie of the season. South Carolina is now 2-3-1 on the year with Houston 2-4-1 this season.
“Our team came out flat and we gave up an early goal and it was a bad way to start the game,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “Before the end of the half Erin did a good job getting the first goal for us on a nice pass from Ashley Williams. We had some chances in the second half of the match but we couldn’t find the back of the net.”
Houston’s lone goal put the Cougars up 1-0 early in the match at 3:19. Midfielder Nikki Hawkins got past the Carolina defense and delivered a shot past Matthews to give Houston a 1-0 lead. Carolina bounced back before the end of the half though with Geldhof’s goal to knot the match at one. Williams delivered a through ball from the weak side that found Geldhof, who beat Houston goalkeeper Erin Ferguson. Carolina finished the match outshooting Houston 18-9, including all three shots in both overtime periods. Abi Markham had four shots on net with Melissa Hutson and Shelly Hoddeson with three apiece to lead the Carolina offense. Sunday afternoon’s match represented the third overtime match for USC in six matches this season.
South Carolina returns home for two consecutive matches next week, beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. vs. Davidson. Carolina also hosts N.C. State on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Stone Stadium, the first of a doubleheader with the South Carolina men’s squad.
