June 10, 2013
2013 Web Schedule
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s soccer coach Shelley Smith has announced a 19-match, 2013 schedule that features six contests against NCAA Tournament teams and includes 10 matches at Stone Stadium.
“I’m looking forward to the 2013 schedule. We have a good balance of home and away opportunities to prepare us for conference play. Also, we have a variety of opponents from different regions and conferences that will be a great test for us. We’ll have a chance to go play in Boston after playing two games at home and going to a rival Clemson game. All of these will be tough opponents and prepare us well for conference play,” said Smith of the schedule.
For the second season in a row, the Gamecocks open the campaign with an exhibition match. South Carolina travels to Charleston, S.C., to face the College of Charleston on Aug. 13, at 7 p.m.
Ten days later, fans will have their first chance to see the 2013 South Carolina women’s soccer team at Stone Stadium on Fri., Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. when the Gamecocks host UNC-Wilmington in their home opener.
Duke, the 2011 NCAA runner-up and 2012 NCAA quarterfinalist, comes to town for a Sunday match under the lights at “The Graveyard” on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. With most of the Duke roster returning, South Carolina will be tested early by the Blue Devils at home.
Coach Smith’s squad then travels north for a pair of games in Boston, Mass. On Fri., Aug. 30, at 7:30 p.m., South Carolina will face home team Boston University. The Sunday match-up pits the Gamecocks against Northeastern at 1 p.m.
Once returning to the Palmetto State, South Carolina travels to Clemson for the annual rivalry battle against the Tigers. This year’s tilt is slated for Fri., Sept. 6, at 5:30 p.m.
A three-game home stand against SMU (Sept. 8, 1 p.m.), USF (Sept. 12, 7 p.m.) and ECU (Sept. 15, 1 p.m.) rounds out the non-conference schedule before South Carolina kicks off SEC play.
“The overall SEC season is difficult, as always. This year there’s a change in format, so for two weekends, we only have one game (Georgia, Sept 12 and Alabama Oct. 11). That will be a nice change of pace compared to playing every Friday and Sunday through the SEC season. The quality of games through the SEC portion of the schedule will be improved this year for everyone. I’m sure it will be as competitive as ever,” added Smith
Opening the conference season on the road, the Gamecocks visit Georgia on Fri., Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.
In the home SEC opener, the Gamecocks host Auburn on Fri., Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Two days later, Arkansas comes to town for a Sunday afternoon game at 1 p.m. The weekend marks the only back-to-back home conference games of the season.
Next is a trip to SEC regular season and tournament champion Florida on Oct. 4, at 7 p.m., followed by a match at Tennessee Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.
South Carolina returns home on Oct. 11 to face Alabama at 7 p.m. before another pair of road games at Missouri (Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.) and Ole Miss (Oct. 20, 1 p.m.)
Vanderbilt visits Stone Stadium Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. before the Gamecocks take off to Starkville, Miss., to face Mississippi State in their final road match of the regular season on Oct. 27 at 1 p.m.
A Halloween home contest against Kentucky is the regular season finale. The Oct. 31st meeting will begin at 7p.m.
Last season, the Gamecocks finished the year 7-10-4 (3-7-3, SEC). In the last four years, Smiths’ squad has captured a SEC tournament title (2009) and a regular season championship (2011). South Carolina returns 10 starters, including All-SEC honoree Sabrina D’Angelo.
Stay tuned to www.GamecocksOnline.com for updated match information.
