Oct. 24, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – A goal by freshman Courtney Cobbs at 81:45 helped lift the South Carolina women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over LSU on Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium. USC rallied from a one-goal deficit at halftime to earn the victory over the Tigers. Senior defender Sarah Lentz also scored her sixth goal of the season for the Gamecock offense. Carolina is now 8-9-2 and 2-6-2 in the SEC while the loss drops LSU to 6-11-1 and 1-8-1 in the conference.
“I thought our team played very well,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “We never let down and did a good job in the second half to control the match and possess the ball. We won a lot of 50/50 situations as well and were able to settle the match down to what we wanted to do. I was proud of the team’s performance.”
LSU would take a 1-0 lead at 11:22 on a penalty kick goal by Stacy Bishop. Bishop had made her way into the box when a USC defender played a ball at her feet but also took her down resulting in the penalty kick. Carolina would get control of the match though in the second half with an early goal in the 54th minute to tie the match at 1-1. A corner kick by Ashley Kirk found its way into the box and was headed onto the goal by Sarah Lentz who found the back of the far corner of the goal for the Gamecocks.
The match would remain tied until the 82nd minute of play when Cobbs put in her second goal of the season. Playing a cross by Ashley Williams, Cobbs was able to control the ball and get a shot off only to be denied by LSU goalkeeper Valerie Vogler. Vogler however let loose a rebound that Cobbs won and knocked a shot to the far left post that went into the goal to give USC a one-goal edge.
South Carolina finished the afternoon with a 14-4 shot advantage including a team-high three shots by Ashley Williams. In addition, USC held an 8-0 edge in corner kicks. Freshman goalkeeper Laura Armstrong had one save on the afternoon to earn the win for the Gamecocks. Vogler would finish with eight saves for LSU.
South Carolina plays its final regular season match of the season on Friday, Oct. 29 as the Gamecocks host Florida at 7 p.m. Friday is Family Day with all kids 13 and under receiving free admission. South Carolina will also honor its seniors before the match. The trio of Ashley Gosnell, Sarah Lentz and Ashley Williams will play their final match at Stone Stadium.
