Oct. 25, 2006
Columbia, S.C. – When the South Carolina women’s soccer team takes the field on Friday night vs. Florida, it will be the final regular season home contest for seniors M.A. Foster and Erin Geldhof. (Kickoff is set for 7 pm with Senior Day presentations before the game) With the match just right around the corner, both Foster and Geldhof sat down with uscsports.com looking back on their four-year careers here at Carolina.
Is it hard to believe that four years have gone by so fast?
Geldhof – “It has gone by really fast. I remember first meeting M.A. and moving into the dorms. It went by a lot faster than I expected it for sure.”
You both have been through both good and tough seasons, what has your senior season meant with the team doing so well and near the top of the SEC?
Geldhof – “It’s been awesome to come full circle and one thing my dad always told me is, `Always try to leave a team better than you came.’ It’s good to have a chance to do that and a nice change of pace.”
Foster – “The last time we made it to SEC’s was our freshman year, so we are the only two left that knows what it feels like. It’s nice to have that again to help the team experience an opportunity at the SEC Tournament next week.”
Was that something that you two tried to mention to the other girls going into your final year at Carolina?
Foster – “I don’t know how many times we said that, but Geld and I were adamant about, `This is it.’ We have four or five months in the season to do it and leave on top.”
Geldhof – “Everyone comes from winning programs and we were pretty fed up with the last couple of years. We all got together, we are doing it for each other and it’s been awesome this year to see how far our team has come. I wish it happened earlier but better late than never.”
What are some of your favorite moments that you have had at Carolina?
Geldhof – “Anytime we beat Clemson is a good feeling. We got two against them (in our careers), including this year, so those wins were good memories.”
Foster – “There have been times we have been the underdog or underestimated, even this year, anytime we can show a team how good we are, it is a good feeling to come away with a win.”
How do you think you will feel on Friday night in the last home game of the season?
Geldhof – With our parents, it is going to be a little emotional. We are in the SEC’s and we can finish anywhere from like, 2-like 5 or 6 still. We hope to play well in our final home game. Our team, coaches and players, all see the big picture and the goals we still have left this season.
Foster – Traveling everywhere, we have a huge support system in the community and with our families. It’s as big a support system as any in the SEC. It helps a lot, especially in close games. We’ve never had an undefeated home season here at South Carolina. We have had a lot of firsts this year, so it would be nice to tack another one on our belt.”
Admission for all fans to Friday’s match is $1. Live audio broadcast and live gametracker stats are also available at uscsports.com.
