Oct. 28, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team (8-9-2, 2-6-2 SEC) concludes the 2004 regular season on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium as the Gamecocks host Florida (12-3-3, 6-2-2 SEC). Friday evening is Family Day with all children ages 13 and under receiving free admission. South Carolina will also honor its senior class before the match with the trio of Ashley Gosnell, Sarah Lentz and Ashley Williams to be recognized. Live audio broadcast and live Gametracker stats will be available at www.uscsports.com.
“We have a lot to play for on Friday,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “The fact that we still have a chance to earn a spot in the SEC Tournament after all that we have been through this year. There have been other games this year in which we were more deserving to win but it didn’t happen. The players have worked hard and to play a ranked team like Florida at home, the last home game for the seniors, I’m hoping we can finish the season off with a win.”
Carolina heads into Friday’s match with a shot at earning the final tournament berth open for next week’s SEC Tournament in Auburn. A win for South Carolina over Florida along with losses by Georgia and Kentucky would clinch the eighth seed for South Carolina at next week’s tournament.
All three seniors have been key contributors for Carolina throughout their careers. Lentz earned All-SEC honors as a junior last year and has maintained her steady play as a force both offensively and defensively for USC. She has started all 19 matches this year and has six goals to her credit including three game-winners. Williams has provided the offensive boost for USC as well including a team-high seven goals this year. Gosnell has played in 66 matches through her career at Carolina and was USC’s leading goal scorer her freshman season. Both Gosnell and Lentz have also been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
USC defeated Florida 1-0 in the last match played between the two schools in Columbia on Sept. 29, 2002, Carolina’s first victory over the Gators. Ashley Williams’ goal at 100:07 in the first overtime lifted South Carolina to the win. Melinda Carter’s pass found Williams who launched a 10-yard shot pass Gator goalkeeper Jordan Kellgren to the left corner giving USC the victory. Last season Florida bounced back against Carolina with a 2-0 win in Gainesville. Robin Fulton scored one goal and added one assist in the victory for Florida.
