2007 Women’s Soccer Schedule in PDF Format
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May 16, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team has announced its schedule for the 2007 season that includes a season opener at defending national champion North Carolina as well as eight contests at home at Stone Stadium. The schedule features eight opponents that reached the 2006 NCAA Tournament: North Carolina (Sept. 1), UNLV (Sept. 9), Clemson (Sept. 21), Tennessee (Sept. 28), Kentucky (Oct. 5), Vanderbilt (Oct. 7), Auburn (Oct. 21) and Florida (Nov. 2). Carolina’s home opener is on Monday, Sept. 3 vs. East Tennessee State.
“This is a good, challenging schedule for our team,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “Obviously we start off against a great team like North Carolina. It will most likely be our toughest challenge of the season (against the defending national champion). I know our players are very excited about the opportunity. For years, North Carolina has been a program at the highest level in women’s soccer, and it’s a good chance for our players to use (the match) as a measuring stick and we hope to go up there and play well.”
The non-conference slate for the women’s team also features two tournaments, one hosted by Central Florida that will pit the Gamecocks against West region opponents UC-Davis and UNLV, the other, the third annual Carolinas’ Cup with the Gamecocks against Charlotte and Furman in Charlotte, N.C. The annual South Carolina-Clemson game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 21 at Clemson with a 7:30 pm kickoff time.
“Away games are crucial for our team,” said Coach Smith. “We need to get off to a good start and make sure we do well on the road. Our team has learned that every game is important. We have learned how important these games are, with one goal separating us from other teams. I know our team is reminded of that from (last season) as it might have kept us out of the NCAA Tournament. This team takes great pride in the success we have had at home in front of our fans and our crowds on the home turf. This is an experienced group and now they have to take that success and bring it with them on the road.”
Last year’s squad finished undefeated at home with an 8-0-3 record at Stone Stadium.
The 2007 season marks the fourth consecutive year that all 12 SEC schools will compete without exclusion of any one team from the schedule. In previous seasons, four of six teams from the SEC East and SEC West would meet with two schools excluded from the schedule.
The SEC season opens on Friday, Sept. 28 with USC traveling to Knoxville, Tenn. to face the Tennesseee Lady Vols followed by a road contest the following Sunday (Sept. 30) at Georgia Carolina’s SEC home opener is on Friday, Oct. 5 vs. Kentucky. The Gamecocks will also host Vanderbilt, Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas in SEC play.
