Sept. 7, 2003
Columbia, S.C. – Freshman midfielder Shelly Hoddeson scored two goals and freshman forward M.A. Foster added a goal and an assist as the South Carolina women’s soccer team defeated Dartmouth 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium. The win improves USC to 2-2 on the year while the loss drops Dartmouth’s record to 1-1.
“We had a great team effort today and our players did a great job supporting each other in the match,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “I think our team moved forward this afternoon and has learned from some mistakes we made in the first two matches this season.”
Dartmouth went ahead first in the match with a goal at 39:58 off a corner kick. Tapped around in the box, Dartmouth’s Christina Ferraris was able to get control of the ball and deliver a shot to the right corner for the first goal of the match.
The Gamecocks battled back before the end of the first half though to knot the match at one apiece at the 44:22 mark. Carolina defender Sarah Lentz served a long ball from the center of the field that found Foster, who broke in past the Big Green defense and beat goalkeeper Anne Marbarger to the right side for her first goal of the year.
Tied at 1-1, South Carolina took the lead at 66:32 with Hoddeson putting in her first goal of the afternoon. Hoddeson let loose a shot from just above the “18” that went past Marbarger to the left side of the net giving the Gamecocks a one-goal edge. USC midfielder Erica Bowie was credited with her first assist of the season on Hoddeson’s goal.
Hoddeson wasn’t done and sealed the Gamecock victory at 88:53 teaming up with Foster for the final goal of the match. Foster’s cross from the right side into the penalty box found an open Hoddeson, who knocked a shot to the right corner to give USC a 3-1 lead.
With two consecutive wins, the Gamecocks head back on the road for a weekend trip to the state of Texas. Carolina opens its trip on Friday, Sept. 12 at #6 Texas A&M at 8:30 p.m. ET and close the weekend out on Sun. Sept. 14 at Houston. Both matches will mark the first time in USC women’s soccer history that the Gamecocks have played in the Lone Star state.
