SC-Tennessee/Georgia Notes
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Sept. 27, 2006
Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team returns to action at home this weekend following a successful road trip that included wins over Alabama and 13th ranked Auburn. Carolina rides a five-game winning streak into this weekend with an 8-3 record and a 2-0 mark in SEC play. USC will host nationally ranked Tennessee (4-3-2, 0-1-1 SEC) on Friday night (Sept. 29) at 7 pm at Stone Stadium followed by a Sunday afternoon (Oct. 1) match with Georgia (6-3, 1-1 SEC) at 2 pm. The Lady Vols enter this Friday’s contest ranked in three of the four national polls and as high as 16th in the country.
It is Family Fun Weekend with all kids wearing their youth soccer jerseys or youth team t-shirts getting in for only $1. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the inflatables, giveaways and games before both matches this weekend. The first 50 Gamecock fans for both matches will also receive a Gamecock water bottle. Live gametracker stats as well as live audio broadcast are available for both matches at uscsports.com.
Comments from head coach Shelley Smith
(On facing Tennessee and Georgia this weekend)
“We know we are going to face two top quality teams in both matches. We have to be ready to play our game and take advantage of the fact that we are at home. We’ve played well at home and we need to continue to do that. It’s going to be tough for Tennessee and Georgia to play on the road again, on back-to-back weekends. We need to try to take advantage of that and show up and play our game. We said last weekend, especially when you are on the road, these matches are a lot about emotion and I think our players will be ready to play at home. Coming off the weekend, we are going in with some confidence and in a better position than we have been in the past in the SEC. We want to keep that going and the players have a feel for the winning side. They know they can do it and that’s what we want to take into every SEC game.”
(On improving from last week’s performances)
“Sunday (at Auburn) was a test for us and it’s always hard coming back from a Friday match. I think we need to improve on that performance we had. We did well enough to come away with two wins, which is outstanding, and that’s what I’m proud of, that we were able to get a win, but didn’t play our best. I think this weekend, that is one step we need to get a bit better at, be sure to play both games to our utmost ability. You don’t want to give another team too many chances or you will end up on the wrong end of the score. We talk about improving every game. Now that we have one SEC weekend under our belts we go into this weekend knowing we are more prepared and will be rested more at home.”
MAKING HISTORY
South Carolina’s 1-0 win at Auburn on Sunday was significant on several levels for the USC women’s soccer program. The win over the nationally ranked Tigers marked the first time in school history that Carolina defeated a ranked team on the road. The shutout victory is also Carolina’s fifth straight shutout of an opponent, the first time in school history that the Gamecocks have gone five consecutive games without allowing a goal to the opposing team.
The current five-game winning streak is tied for the second longest in school history and just one short of the school record set twice (1999, 2002). Carolina also owns a five-game home winning streak with a 5-0 mark this year at Stone Stadium. USC’s 2-0 start in the SEC is only the second time that the Gamecocks have started conference play with a pair of wins. The first time was in 2002 when Carolina defeated Florida and Kentucky in the first two matches.
USC EARNS HIGHEST REGIONAL RANKINGS OF THE YEAR
Both the Soccer Buzz and NSCAA/adidas regional rankings have Carolina at their highest mark of the year in the Southeast Region. Soccer Buzz places Carolina sixth in the Southeast with the NSCAA/adidas poll selecting the Gamecocks seventh in the region. In addition, for only the second time in school history, South Carolina is receiving votes in the Soccer Buzz Top 25 national rankings. The only other time for USC to receive votes in the Soccer Buzz rankings was in the 1999 preseason poll.
ARMSTRONG NAMED SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
South Carolina junior goalkeeper Laura Armstrong earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week following a pair of shutouts in Carolina’s wins over Alabama and nationally ranked Auburn on the road last weekend.
Armstrong came up big in goal this week for USC with three saves in the 2-0 victory against the Crimson Tide and four saves as well in a 1-0 win over Auburn.
“I’m excited for Laura to be recognized,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “She has done a great job for us and it’s a credit to our entire defense as well. The keeper gets the shutout but its really the entire team that earns that. It’s a team effort when you defend and Laura has been solid to keep the ball out of the net when there are any chances.”
Armstrong has started all 11 matches for the Gamecocks this year and has been strong between the posts with a 0.49 goals against average and just five goals allowed the entire season. Her goals against average leads the SEC. She has also posted four individual shutouts as well as a part of two team shutouts as well. The Gamecock defense has limited its opponent this season to one goal or less in all 11 matches played this year.
HOME SWEET HOME
Carolina has proven to be a tough team to beat at the Graveyard with a 31-16-3 record (.650) at Stone Stadium under head coach Shelley Smith. Those 31 victories include a 24-2 (.923) mark against non-conference teams. USC has won 17 straight home contests vs. non-conference teams dating back to beginning of 2003.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
South Carolina has been very successful over the last six seasons when scoring two goals or more. Carolina has compiled a 39-6-1 record when tallying at least two goals in a match, including a 6-0 mark last season. USC is 5-0 this year scoring two or more goals.
ONE OR NONE
South Carolina has allowed one goal or less in all 11 matches played this season. Carolina goalkeeper Laura Armstrong had started all 11 contests.
TAKING THE LEAD
South Carolina has been in good shape this season when taking the lead in a match. In all eight victories this season, Carolina has scored the first goal of the match.
SCHROEDER SCORES
Sophomore forward Felicia Schroeder is the team’s leading goal scorer this year with five goals and also leads the team with 12 points on the year. Now in her second season at Carolina, she has started eight of 11 matches and is among the league leaders in points.
THE ROAD AHEAD
For the third consecutive year, the SEC schedule features all 12 schools competing against each other. Carolina has six matches scheduled at home with five on the road. Following this weekend, USC will be back on the road to two more SEC East schools (Kentucky, Vanderbilt). Carolina then opens a three-game homestand against Mississippi State, Ole Miss and LSU. A road tilt at Arkansas will be the last road contest before retuning home to face Florida, in the final regular season match of the year. The top eight teams from both divisions will compete at the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala.
