Skip to main content
Partner logo
Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link Gamecocks+

Complete Release in PDF Format
dot.gifspacer.gifDownload Free Acrobat Reader

Sept. 4, 2006

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team (2-2) concludes its three-game homestand vs. The Citadel (0-3) on Tuesday night at 5 pm at Stone Stadium. The match is part of a doubleheader with the men’s squad, who will face Centenary College following the women’s match. Live gametracker stats and live audio broadcast for both matches is available at uscsports.com. It is a quick turnaround for the Gamecocks, who played just this past Sunday vs. James Madison.

“It is similar (to conference weekend),” said Coach Smith. “If you play Friday night, you only have a day of rest and have to recover quickly. We have to make sure we take care of ourselves health-wise, turn it right around and be ready to go on Tuesday. With the heat too, you have to make sure to care of your body and be ready to go.”

CAROLINA WINS SECOND STRAIGHT WITH 3-1 VICTORY OVER JMU
Three different players tallied goals on Sunday afternoon as the South Carolina women’s soccer team raised its record (2-2) to .500 with a 3-1 victory over James Madison (0-3) at Stone Stadium. Samantha Diaz-Matosas, Annie Galloway and Blakely Mattern all scored as Carolina won its second straight match.

“It was outstanding effort from our team today,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “We have improved each game; we did things today much better than we did in the past three games. Finishing was one, everyone went in took care of the roles we asked, it was a true team effort. Some of our players came up strong to finish goals for us; we had good services and good running off the ball.”

The goal chances came early for Carolina with the Gamecocks going ahead 1-0 in the 18th minute of play on freshman forward Samantha Diaz-Matosas’ first career goal. Sophomore forward Felicia Schroeder played a nice through ball that found Diaz-Matosas breaking through to the box, where she knocked in a shot from inside the “18.”

With a 1-0 lead after halftime, USC struck quickly in the first half at the 47th minute to go up by two goals as junior midfielder Annie Galloway connected from inside the six-yard box. Junior defender Courtney Cobbs was credited with an assist on the play.

James Madison would cut into the Carolina lead at 63:25 though as Teri Maykoski directed a restart ball played from Morven Ross into the net and past Carolina goalkeeper Laura Armstrong. The Gamecocks would answer on their own set piece though to go back up by two goals at 77:56 when Blakely Mattern timed a corner kick ball well placed by Ashley Kirk and headed it into the back corner of the net giving the Gamecocks a 3-1 lead.

“Blakely was due, we said that at halftime,” said Coach Smith. “She went and hit the post today (in the first half). She has been knocking at the door and Kirk played an excellent ball into her and Blakely did a great job to focus in a crowd and finish for us.”

South Carolina held a 14-6 shot advantage in the match as well as a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.

“Set pieces are crucial,” said Coach Smith. “That’s what we gave up (as well) unfortunately. That’s a dangerous part of the game and we have to make sure we take advantage of our chances. The last couple of seasons we have had a numerous amount of crosses and corner kicks that we haven’t put away. Kirk, this year, her balls are even better and we have players that are finishing. We hope to continue scoring off those opportunities.”

SCHROEDER STREAK
With an assist in Sunday’s match vs. James Madison, sophomore forward Felicia Schroeder has put together a points streak for two consecutive matches for the Gamecocks. Schroeder made her first career start on Sunday vs. JMU as well.

Schroeder recorded her first multi-goal game of her career at Carolina last Thursday in the 2-1 win over Francis Marion. The two-goal performance marked the first time since last year vs. Alabama that a Carolina player had scored at least two goals in a match. Alex Mouton scored twice for USC in a 2-0 victory last year vs. the Crimson Tide.

GAMECOCKS FIRSTS
All three players to score goals in the win over James Madison also registered their first career goals in a Gamecock uniform. Samantha Diaz-Matosas, Annie Galloway and Blakely Mattern all put in their first goals for the garnet and black.

HOME SWEET HOME
Carolina has proven to be a tough team to beat at the Graveyard with a 28-16-3 record (.628) at Stone Stadium under head coach Shelley Smith. Those 28 victories include a 21-2 (.913) mark against non-conference teams. USC has won 14 straight home contests vs. non-conference teams dating back to the beginning of the 2003 season.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
South Carolina has been very successful over the last six seasons when scoring two goals or more. Carolina has compiled a 36-6-1 record when tallying at least two goals in a match, including a 6-0 mark last season (2005). Carolina is 2-0 this year when scoring two or more goals.

SECOND-HALF SURGE
The second-half has proven to be the difference in the early part of the season for the Gamecocks with four of their five goals coming in the last half of play. Ironically, all four goals that opponents have scored have also been in the second half with the Gamecocks yet to allow an opposing team score in the first 45 minutes of action.

NEWCOMERS MAKE AN IMPACT
South Carolina has several fresh faces in the mix seeing action for the first time in the garnet and black. Freshman forward Samantha Diaz-Matosas and freshman defender Blakely Mattern have started all four matches with midfielder Kim Miller making three starts and defender Shannon Bigbie with two starts. Forward Leah Louguidice has also made a start for USC. All five newcomers have appeared in all four matches this season.

Head coach Shelley Smith brought in one of her deepest recruiting classes in her tenure with 10 newcomers in this year’s freshman class. The class was recognized with a No. 5 ranking in the SEC according to Soccer Buzz as well as 10th in the Southeast Region.

ON TAP
South Carolina heads back on the road this weekend with a pair of matches in the Carolina Cup, this year being held at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. Carolina will face Charlotte on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 12:30 pm and conclude the tournament on Monday, Sept. 11 against the host Lady Paladins. Kickoff for that match is 7:30 p.m. This is the second season of the Carolina Cup, which also features the Clemson Tigers.