Oct. 24, 2007
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 25th-ranked South Carolina women’s soccer team will take on its second consecutive ranked SEC opponent as they travel to Baton Rouge, La., for a Thursday night game against the No. 20 LSU Tigers. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. (EST) as both teams are attempting to secure spots in the SEC Tournament with only three regular season games remaining. South Carolina (12-4-1; 4-3-1 SEC) is currently sixth in the conference with 13 points while LSU (10-2-5; 4-1-3 SEC) is in a three-way tie for third with 15 points. Click Here for Live Stats
The Tigers are the fifth ranked team that South Carolina will play this season, matching the most ranked teams Carolina has played in a single season. The Gamecocks are currently 2-2 against ranked opponents this year, defeating then-No. 1 North Carolina and No. 25 Auburn and falling to No. 20 Clemson and No. 10 Tennessee in overtime. The game against Auburn has been the only one played at Stone Stadium, and senior Erin Sullivan has scored the game-winning goal in both victories.
Thursday’s game will be broadcast on tape-delay in Baton Rouge only by The Pelican Broadcasting Network, available under Cox Cable. The game will be aired four times this weekend on Thursday at 11 p.m., Friday at 10 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m.
ON THE HORIZON
South Carolina returns to Stone Stadium for the home finale as they take on Arkansas (8-8-1; 1-6-1) in the SEC Game of the Week. The game, scheduled for 1 p.m., will be televised on SEC-TV (FSN) and will include Senior Day ceremonies for Carolina eight seniors.
SCOUTING LSU
LSU (10-2-5; 4-1-3) is statistically the SEC’s most explosive team, leading the conference in goals (38), assists (36) and points (112). Four Tigers rank in the Top 10 in the SEC in points, led by SEC-leader Rachel Yepez (24). Yepez also leads the conference with 11 goals while Malorie Rutledge leads the SEC with 11 assists. The game against South Carolina will be Senior Day for LSU.
RPI
South Carolina’s sits at No. 15 in the latest RPI rankings released Oct. 23. Carolina improves 10 spots from their first ranking two weeks ago and are the third highest SEC team behind Tennessee and Georgia. USC has played three teams in the Top 10 and six in the Top 25.
SHUTOUT WEEKEND PRODUCES CAROLINA HISTORY
Last weekend Carolina shutout Alabama (2-0) and No. 25 Auburn (1-0), marking only the fourth time USC has shutout a ranked SEC opponent and marks just the third time that USC won back-to-back SEC shutouts. The victory against Auburn also gave Carolina its first season with two victories over ranked opponents (Defeated No. 1 UNC-9/1/07)
ARMSTRONG EARNS SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior goalkeeper Laura Armstrong was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week this week after posting shutout victories against Alabama and No. 25 Auburn. She was also named to Top Drawer’s Team of the Week. She became only the fourth goalkeeper in USC history to shutout a ranked SEC team. The performances improve Carolina to a school-record and SEC-leading 10 shutouts on the season.
SOUTH CAROLINA RETURNS TO THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Following a one-week layoff, South Carolina has returned to the national rankings this week ranked No. 25 by Soccer Buzz. Carolina dropped out last week following a tie and win at Mississippi State and Ole Miss, ending a school-record six consecutive weeks ranked in the polls.
SHOTS ON GOAL AT THE TOP
South Carolina has a knack for getting the ball on the goal as the team ranks second in the SEC in shots on goal (145), shots on goal per game (8.53) and SOG percentage (0.543). Junior Monica Hogan sits at fifth on the individual list with 75% of her shots hitting the mark, followed by junior Danila Monteiro at 7th (.692). Shannon Bigbie (.667), Courtney Cobbs (.600), Brooke Jacobs (.667) and Annie Galloway (.667) just miss the top 10 while Amanda Dabbenigno (1.000), Brittiny Rhoades (1.000) and Kimmy Gillespie (1.000) do not have enough attempts to be included in the rankings.
RHOADES PLAYS LIKE NO FRESHMAN
Freshman defender Brittiny Rhoades tallied her first points as Gamecock in notching the game-winning assist at Ole Miss. Rhoades has started 16 of 17 games at left back and has proven to be an All-SEC caliber defender as Carolina’s best one-on-one lockdown defender.
GOALKEEPERS RISE UP THE RECORD BOOKS
Seniors Laura Armstrong and Lindsay Thorstenson are steadily making their way to the top of the USC all-time goaltending list. Armstrong has five shutouts on the year (Winthrop, Marshall, Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn) and sits in second place with 13 for her career. With shutouts against North Carolina, UNLV and Charlotte, senior Thorstenson has nine shutouts in her career, placing her in a tie for third place. Elise Matthews (2000-03) holds the Carolina record with 15 shutouts.
