Nov. 7, 2002

Oxford, Miss. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team (13-5-2, 4-3-2 SEC) opens up postseason play on Thursday afternoon with a 3 p.m. match vs. Florida in the first round of the SEC Tournament. South Carolina is the No. 5 seed with the Gators seeded fourth. USC defeated Florida earlier in the season to open up the SEC schedule, 1-0 in a thrilling overtime win a Stone Stadium.

Wednesday evening, two South Carolina players were named second team All-SEC selections. Senior midfielder Melinda Carter and junior defender Alison Jarrow each garnered All-SEC honors for the Gamecocks. A senior from Plano, Texas, Melinda Carter earned her second All-SEC selection. “Bullet” leads USC in points (18) and assists (6). A junior from Downingtown, Pa., Alison Jarrow has been a stabilizing force for the Gamecocks as one of two central defenders. Jarrow has started all 20 matches and proven to be a key component for one of the top defenses in the SEC.

South Carolina’s match with Florida marks the third time in school history for USC in the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks are 0-2 in SEC Tournament play with a 1998 6-0 loss to Florida and a 1999 2-1 overtime loss to Vanderbilt. Florida enters this weekend as the six-time SEC Champion and six-time SEC Tournament champions. South Carolina’s win vs. Florida this season marked the Gamecocks first in school history vs. the Gators.