Sept. 14, 2004
Columbia, S.C. –
The South Carolina women’s soccer team (4-3) hosts Clemson (5-1) on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium as the Gamecocks begin their final week of non-conference action before SEC play begins next week. Wednesday night is Garnet & Black Night at Stone Stadium with all kids wearing garnet or black receiving free admission. The first 250 fans attending the match will also receive a free Beat Clemson t-shirt.
“Going into this match we know we are playing a top opponent,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “When it’s home, it’s Clemson, things change. Everyone is up for it and it is always a good game. Clemson proved itself early in the season with good wins at Texas and at Texas A&M and it will be a test for our team. We are coming off a road weekend where we played two very difficult teams and I hope we learned a lot. It’s a good opportunity for our program. I think we have proved that we can play with any team in the nation but we just have to play a whole game. We’ve outplayed top teams, now we just have to learn to win those games.”
Carolina enters the weekend with a 3-0 record at home this year. Since the 2001 season under head coach Shelley Smith, the Gamecocks are 14-2 vs. non-conference opponents at Stone Stadium. The last two contests between the Gamecocks and Tigers have been tight with Clemson defeating USC 1-0 in each match with late goals. Last year Kelly Schneider’s goal at 95:02 in the first overtime was enough to push the Tigers past the Gamecocks. Two years ago in front of 1,863 fans, the largest crowd in USC women’s soccer history, Heather Beem scored in the 87th minute in another one-goal contest.
South Carolina senior forward Ashley Williams comes into Wednedsay night’s match on a hot streak and has scored a goal in four consecutive matches. She leads the team with five goals and 10 points on the year. Heading into the match tomorrow night, South Carolina has scored 15 goals as a team while also allowing the same number.
Live Audio broadcast for the match will also be available at www.uscsports.com. South Carolina concludes its non-conference schedule on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. vs. Charlotte.
