Sept. 10, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team travels to Athens, Ga. to open SEC play with Georgia on Friday before returning home on Monday to host Kennesaw State at Stone Stadium. The match with the Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. on Friday while kickoff against the Owls is set for 6 p.m. Both games are available on SEC Network + through participating providers.
WEEKEND INFORMATION
Date/Opponent: Fri., Sept. 11 at. Georgia
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Location: Athens, Ga.
Stadium: UGA Soccer Stadium/Turner Soccer Complex
SEC Network + |
Date/Opponent: Mon. Sept. 14 vs. Kennesaw State
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
Location: Columbia S.C.
Stadium: Stone Stadium
SEC Network + | | Tickets
Promotions: National Cream Filled Donut Day – first 350 students receive a free cream filled donut
LEADING THE NATION
Through four games at Stone Stadium, the Gamecocks are leading the nation in home attendance with 17,043 total fans and an average of 4,261
IN THE RANKINS
The Gamecocks are No. 17 in this week’s NSCAA rankings and No. 15 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com poll.
CLEAN SHEET
The Gamecock defense turned in its best performance of the season in a 2-0 victory over Colgate, allowing zero shot attempts. South Carolina dominated possession throughout much of the game against a Colgate team that spent little time in its attacking third.
BY THE NUMBERS
South Carolina holds a 101-33 shot advantage over opponents through six games. The Gamecocks have put 50 of 101 shots on target, compared to opponents getting just 14 shots on goal. South Carolina averages 16.8 shots per game and is outscoring opponents 16-7. South Carolina’s 16 goals rank second in the SEC. The Gamecocks also rank second in the conference in points (49), goals per game (2.67) and assists (17).
SCOUTING GEORIGA
The Bulldogs are 0-4-1 on the season after falling to then No. 13 Clemson 1-0 last Friday. Georgia opened the season with a 0-0 tie with High Point and followed with losses to Wake Forest, then No. 20 Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. Sophomore defender Mariel Gutierrez has scored Georgia’s only goal of the season. In the net, sophomore goalkeeper Louise Hogrell has played all 470 minutes, allowing 11 goals and tallying 21 saves.
SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
The Owls are 3-2-1 on the season after defeating The Citadel 3-2 and falling to College of Charleston 3-1 last weekend. Kennesaw State opened its 2015 campaign with a commanding 12-0 win over Alabama A&M. Junior midfielder Brittany Reed scored six of the 12 goals and has seven on the season. The Owls have started three different goalkeepers, who have allowed a combined nine goals and made 18 saves. Sophomore Ashley Zambetti has accumulated the most time in the net, playing in four games with three starts.
MCCASKILL IN THE LEAD
Savannah McCaskill leads South Carolina in goals (4), points (10), shots (17), and shots on goal (10). The sophomore has also tallied two assists. Her 10 points and four goals rank fifth in the SEC.
ASSISTED BY DRENNAN
Junior midfielder Chelsea Drennan has recorded a team-high five assists. She now has 24 throughout her career, which ties for second all-time in school history. Drennan’s five assists rank second in the SEC.
TWO FOR GROFF
Junior forward Sophie Groff accounted for two of South Carolina’s three goals, including the game-winner against Coastal Carolina.
IT’S A FIRST
Sophomore midfielder Dominique Babbitt recorded her first career goal and assist in South Carolina’s 4-1 victory at Charlotte. Junior defender Kaleigh Kurtz scored her first career goal in the Gamecocks’ 3-2 win over Coastal Carolina.
THE FAST LANE
Sophomore midfielder Lindsey Lane netted the game winner in the Gamecocks’ double overtime victory over Oklahoma. Three of Lane’s four career goals have been game- winners.
GRAY FOR THE WIN
Senior defender Caroline Gray scored the game-winner in South Carolina’s season opener against Northeastern; the goal was the first of her career.
ROOM FOR TWO
Senior Caroline Kelly and sophomore Abbey Crider have split time in the net this season. Kelly is 3-1-0 with five saves while Crider is 2-0-0 on the year with two saves and a shutout against Colgate.
COMEBACK KIDS
Senior Carly Ray and junior Paige Bendell have made their return to the back line after missing time with injuries. The duo played a combined 240 minutes and played key roles in the Gamecocks’ defense that held Colgate to zero shot attempts and allowed just one goal at Charlotte. Both Ray and Bendell were credited with an assist in the 2-0 win over Colgate, including the game-winning assist to Bendell.
FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTE
The Gamecock freshmen are off to a great start as Courtney Kaplan scored the first goal against Oklahoma, Simone Wark recorded an assist in the win over Northeastern and Carrie Lawrence has earned two starts this season.
UP NEXT
South Carolina continues conference action, traveling to Missouri on Sun., Sept. 20 to take on the Tigers. The match is set for 3 p.m. ET and will televised on ESPNU.
