Sept. 17, 2011

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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director

South Carolina vs. #13 Wake Forest | Sunday, 5 p.m.

| Live Video Broadcast (Free) | Game Notes

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina hosts No. 13 Wake Forest in its non-conference finale Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. for the match between the two regional rivals.

Both teams are coming off Thursday night victories heading into Sunday’s matchup. The Gamecocks defeated Charlotte 2-1 in overtime courtesy of a Kayla Grimsley golden goal, and the Demon Deacons defeated No. 3 Florida State 2-0 courtesy of Katie Stengel’s brace.

The Gamecocks and Demon Deacons have played two thrillers the past two seasons. The teams met at Stone Stadium in the Round of 16 in 2009 in a match where the Demon Deacons scored off a header at 89:59 for the literal last second victory. South Carolina took revenge last season with a 1-0 win at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, setting up Sunday’s buffer match.

ON THE HORIZON
The Gamecocks open SEC play next week with a road trip to Tennessee and Georgia. The Gamecocks will take on the nationally-ranked Lady Vols Friday night before heading to Athens.

SCOUTING WAKE FOREST
Wake Forest enters the match with one of the nation’s most prolific offenses that has amassed 21 goals through eight games. Carrying the load for the Demon Deacons is Freshman All-American Katie Stengel who has not disappointed in her sophomore season with 10 goals and 23 points midway through the season. Classmate Rachel Nuzzolese has contributed three goals after missing most of last year due to injury. In total, eight Demon Deacons have scored a goal and nine have registered an assist, led by Kristen Meier’s five.

In goal, sophomore Aubrey Bledsoe has put together a fine non-conference season with a 0.49 goals against average to go with 18 saves and five shutouts.

Wake Forest is coming off a 2-0 shutout victory of No. 3 Florida State at home last Thursday. The team has allowed only four goals this season with two coming in their lone loss, a 2-1 defeat in their home opener to Connecticut.

GRIMSLEY HITS THE ASSIST RECORD
Senior Kayla Grimsley tied the program record for career assists in Sunday’s win against UNC Wilmington after earning her 24th career assist in the second half. Grimsley ties the record set by Mindy Sanders from 1996-99, a record that has held strong for 12 seasons. The assist on Kortney Rhoades’s goal in the 58th minute was the first of the season for Grimsley.