Oct. 19, 2014

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (11-4-1, 4-3-1 SEC) collected its second SEC win of the weekend, earning a 2-0 shutout victory over Ole Miss (7-5-4, 2-3-2 SEC) on Sunday at Stone Stadium. The Gamecocks benefitted from a pair of goals in the first 10 minutes from redshirt freshman Lindsey Lane and senior Andie Romness.

For the second match in a row, the Gamecocks netted a goal in the first two minutes. This time, it was sophomore Chelsea Drennan and junior Raina Johnson setting up Lane. The build up from the midfield gave a streaking Lane a look from a few yards inside the corner of the 18-yard box, which she calmly booted past Rebel keeper Kelly McCormick for the 1-0 lead and her first career goal.

In the eighth minute, the Gamecocks were awarded a penalty kick after a collision between McCormick and Drennan on a play in the box. Romness stepped in to take the penalty for South Carolina and went left to convert for her first career goal. Drennan missed the remainder of the match after the play.

With just 10 minutes to go before the break, Ole Miss took a corner kick that sent Sabrina D’Angelo in the air. D’Angelo wrapped up the ball, but landed awkwardly, sending freshman Abbey Crider in for her first collegiate minutes.

Less than three minutes into her collegiate career, Crider recorded her first save, diving to her left on a shot from the Rebels’ leading scorer Addie Forbus.

The Gamecock defense was stout yet again, allowing just three Ole Miss shots in the first period.

In the second half, South Carolina worked as a defensive unit to limit the Ole Miss attack. Crider picked her second save of the day in the 55th minute and the Gamecocks preserved the shutout.

GAMECHANGER

South Carolina knocked the Rebels on their heels early, scoring just 108 seconds into the match. Lindsey Lane tallied her first collegiate goal on the play set up by Chelsea Drennan and Raina Johnson.

KEY STAT Freshman Abbey Crider saw the first minutes of her career after Sabrina D’Angelo left the game due to injury. In just over 55 minutes of play, Crider faced seven shots, collected two saves and preserved the shutout started by the senior.

NOTABLES

• After scoring just four goals in the first six conference contests, the Gamecocks more than doubled the total this weekend, tallying five in their last two (3 vs. No. 5 Florida, 2 vs Ole Miss).
• Both Lindsey Lane and Andie Romness scored their first career goals.
• The Gamecocks are 2-2 on PKs this season after Romness converted today’s opportunity. Sophomore Sophie Groff converted one against Milwaukee earlier this season (8/31).
• For the first time this season, the Gamecocks have won back-to-back SEC games and have won consecutive contests for the first time since early September.
• Abbey Crider collected two saves in her first collegiate action.
• The Gamecocks now have nine shutouts on the season, including two in SEC play.

TWEET OF THE GAME

Thank you Caroline Gray and the @GamecockWSoccer you made her day. pic.twitter.com/xps1BoQEvp

— Todd Vandyke (@ToddVandyke73) October 19, 2014

QUOTABLE South Carolina Head Coach Shelley Smith
To come out and to score the goals we need early, it makes a big difference. It puts pressure on your opponent. We’ve played solid defense all year. It’s nice to defend a lead rather than trying to get the goal. We came out and did very well to pick apart some areas that we could expose. On the first goal, Lindsey’s run out of the midfield was excellent. The build up was tremendous; that was a great first goal. We just have to make sure that we continue to do those things and play for 90 minutes.
On freshman Abbey Crider stepping in…
Everyone on the bench is expected to be ready to be called upon, just for that reason. She trains hard and learns from Sabrina. She’s capable of going in there and doing a nice job. Our backs did well in front of her, and she did well to complete the shutout. I’m proud of the defensive effort, for sure.

UP NEXT South Carolina takes its last road trip of the season next weekend, traveling to Vanderbilt on Fri., Oct. 24, for a 7 p.m. ET match before flying West to take on No. 8 Texas A&M at 5 p.m. ET.