Oct. 7, 2007
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Vanderbilt’s Molly Kinsella scored with nine seconds remaining in the second overtime as the No. 20 South Carolina women’s soccer team fell to Vanderbilt, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium. Vanderbilt improves to 4-5-2 and 1-1-0 in the SEC while Carolina drops to 9-4-0 and 1-3-0 in conference play.
The game was the third overtime match – and second double-overtime match – in the past four games for South Carolina. The loss ends a 15-match home-unbeaten streak for the Gamecocks that dated back to the beginning of the 2006 season.
“To go into double-overtime against a Vanderbilt team that has rested was not a good thing,” head coach Shelley Smith said. “We had players that played well and put us in position to do some things. It’s inexcusable to give up a goal with nine seconds remaining.”
The Commodores came into Sunday’s match with fresh legs after their Friday night game at Florida was postponed due to unplayable field conditions, but the advantage didn’t show in the field as both team’s held the opposing offenses with little to do on the attack. At the end of the first half, Carolina held a 5-1 shot advantage and recorded three corner kicks to Vanderbilt’s one. The best scoring opportunity for either team came when Carolina’s Brooke Jacobs split the defense with a pass to Lindsay Small at 18-yards out, whose shot was closely saved by goalkeeper Rachel Bachtel.
Carolina controlled the pace of the game throughout the second half and fired off eight additional shots, but only one found the frame. Kimmy Gillespie took a direct kick in the 63rd minute that was deflected by Blakely Mattern in the box to Ashley Kirk. The shot by Kirk found its way past Bachtel out of the net but was headed out by the Commodore defense just before passing the line.
Neither team found an opportunity in the first overtime and the match almost ended in Carolina’s first draw of the season before Kinsella fired her shot from about 25-yards out at 109:51 for the game-winner.
South Carolina returns to the road for a trip to the Magnolia State next weekend. The Gamecocks will take on Mississippi State Friday at 8 p.m. EST and conclude with a date at Ole Miss Sunday at 2 p.m.
