Oct. 16, 2005
Starkville, Miss. – Despite a late goal from senior midfielder Amanda Thurber, the South Carolina women’s soccer team was defeated 2-1 on Sunday afternoon by Mississippi State in SEC women’s soccer action. The loss drops the Gamecocks’ record to 5-10 and 1-7 in the SEC. Mississippi State is 3-9-3 and 2-6 in the SEC.
South Carolina created chances early into the first half when the match was scoreless with Thurber and M.A. Foster both getting open shots off from inside the penalty box in the first 20 minutes but denied both times by MSU goalkeeper Emily Meyers. Erin Sullivan also came close to scoring inside the six yard box but the Gamecocks were again denied by Meyers.
Although the Gamecocks controlled most of the action, it was the Bulldogs who took advantage of two opportunities that gave them two goals within three minutes of play. Betty Ann Casey put Mississippi State on the board at 27:54 as she drove down the left side of the box and drilled an eight yard-shot past USC goalkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson and off USC defender Kali Neumann into the goal. The Bulldogs would go ahead then at 30:10 with Kevyn Shelledy scoring her first goal of the year. With possession of the ball, Shelledy beat one Gamecock defender and launched a shot from 35 yards out that was out of the reach of Thorstenson and to the left corner for the second goal of the match.
With a two-goal deficit, Carolina continued to fight back though with several chances in the second half as they outshot the Bulldogs 7-3 in the final 45 minutes of play. USC would get on the scoreboard at 80:46 on Thurber’s first goal of the season. Darcel Mollon drove down the right side and was able to get a pass off that found Thurber inside the penalty box. Thurber was able to get her foot on the ball and score to the left corner of the goal to bring the Gamecocks within a goal. South Carolina would get off one more shot late with Ashley Kirk but Meyers was there again to make the save and preserve the Bulldogs win.
South Carolina finished the afternoon with a 13-7 edge in shots as well as a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. Foster had three shots to lead the Gamecocks with Kirk, Sullivan and Thurber adding two apiece. Meyers had four saves for Mississippi State in goal. USC is now 2-7 this season in matches decided by one goal.
Carolina returns to action on Friday Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. hosting Arkansas. Friday’s match is also Senior Day with the Gamecocks honoring its four seniors before the contest. Thurber, Kimmy Criss, Jackie Welch and Stacey Zelek will play their final home match of their career at Stone Stadium on Friday night.
