Sept. 30, 2007
ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 12 South Carolina soccer team fell to Georgia, 2-1, in double-overtime Sunday afternoon in front of 2,113 fans at the Turner Soccer Complex. The game was the second consecutive overtime game for the Gamecocks as they were taken to an extra period Thursday night against Tennessee in Knoxville.
With the loss, Carolina falls to 8-3-0 overall and 0-2-0 in conference play. Georgia improves to 9-1-0 and 2-0-0 in SEC play after defeating No. 15 Florida Friday night. Carolina falls to 3-7-2 in the overall series with Georgia, including 1-2 in overtime games against the Bulldogs. The teams played to a 1-1 tie in 2004 and Georgia claimed a 1-2 victory in 2002, both in Columbia.
Darcel Mollon recorded the lone goal for the Gamecocks in the 51st minute. Georgia midfielder Carolina Simpson recorded the game-winning goal in the 107th minute, volleying the ball into the goal from a free kick that was placed into the box.
In a game that saw little action offensively for both teams, it was the strike from Mollon that initially broke the game open after both teams combined for only five shots in the opening 45 minutes. Following a Georgia corner kick, Mollon retrieved the ball outside the Carolina box and drove the length of the field, passing the Georgia defenders with her speed before juking goalkeeper Michelle Betos for the goal into the left side of the net.
The score was the team leading seventh for Mollon and was her second unassisted goal of the season.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the 79th minute as Marrah Falle fielded a high bouncer and flicked it passed Lindsay Thorstenson for the shot in the net. Both teams scrambled to take the lead in the final 10 minutes. Gamecocks Ashley Kirk and Blakely Mattern both had shots that just missed the net while Simpson hit a ball that sailed just high of the goal in the 82nd minute.
Georgia took the first opportunity in overtime with a direct kick that was saved by Thorstenson. Kirk gave Carolina its best chance for the golden goal in the 97th minute after possessing a perfect cross from Erin Sullivan in the box, but Betos made an excellent save to extend the game.
The teams were even throughout the match. The Gamecocks and Bulldogs both recorded nine shots with five on goal and 10 fouls. Georgia held a 4-3 advantage in saves and 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
The Gamecocks return to action Friday when they host Kentucky at 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium. All youth under 18 will receive $1 admission against Kentucky if wearing a team jersey or tee shirt.
