Oct. 20, 2013
OXFORD, Miss. – After strong first half from South Carolina (12-2-2, 5-2-1), Ole Miss (12-3-2, 5-2-1) equalized in the second half as the two sides battled to a 1-1 double overtime draw this afternoon at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. The Gamecocks held a 14-9 shot advantage in the game, holding a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.
After defending some early pressure from the Rebels, the Gamecocks capitalized on their first opportunity of the game in the sixth minute. Sophomore midfielder Raina Johnson slipped a cross into the box that was deflected by an Ole Miss defender but the ball was teed up just outside the six-yard box freshman Chelsea Drennan. The play-making midfielder drilled the close-range shot past Kelly McCormick for the first goal of her career.
Danielle Au nearly doubled the lead just under seven minutes later on South Carolina’s second attempt of the match. The senior striker found space from just outside the right side of the 18 and ripped a high shot to the far side of goal, but McCormick was able to extended and tip the ball up and over the crossbar for a corner.
Au had another chance in the 19th minute, but her attempt was wide of the mark. Nearly four minutes later, patient build up from the Gamecocks outside the 18 led to an open look for sophomore Stevi Parker, but the midfielder’s shot floated left of the post.
Shots continued to add up throughout the half for the Gamecocks to the tune of a 9-0 advantage at the half, with five on frame, but the insurance goal didn’t come.
Looking like the first half, Ole Miss came out with heavy pressure with three corners and a pair of shots, but the Gamecock defense stood tall and weathered the early storm.
Freshman Daija Griffin nearly gave South Carolina the insurance goal it needed in the 66th minute after a ball was whipped in six yards out from goal, but her volley ended up high over the crossbar.
The miss proved costly as just over eight minutes later, Ole Miss’ Jennifer Miller sent a ball into the box that Olivia Harrsion brought down and hit a low shot that snuck just into the right netting past junior goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo.
D’Angelo was called into action again in the 81st minute as a through ball to the top of the box found Harrison who struck a low shot to the left post. Diving to her right, D’Angelo was able to knock the ball out for a corner.
With the two sides level through 90 minutes, the game headed to overtime, the Gamecocks fourth of the season. Sophomore midfielder Coryn Bajema had Carolina’s best chance of extra time in the 108th minute. Defender Carly Ray sent a throw-in into the box where it was flicked to far post on a header. Bajema came sliding in to get a foot on the ball at the far post, but the effort landed in the side netting.
The Gamecocks return to Stone Stadium on Oct. 25 as they host Vanderbilt at 5 p.m., before hitting the road the two days later for Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.
