Feb. 29, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team opens its spring season Saturday, March 1, when it competes against Georgia Southern at 3 p.m. The neutral site game, hosted by the Augusta Patriots Soccer Club, will be played at the Blanchard Woods Soccer Park in Augusta, Ga.

South Carolina is coming off a 2007 season highlighted by the program’s second NCAA Tournament appearance. Coach Shelley Smith’s team went 14-6-3 and set a school-record with 12 shutouts, finishing the season ranked No. 29 on the final Soccer Buzz poll. The Gamecocks lose eight seniors but return the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-American Blakely Mattern and Freshman All-American Brittney Rhoades at defender. Kim Miller was an SEC All-Tournament team selection at midfielder while Danila Monteiro is the team’s leading returning scorer despite missing postseason play with an injury suffered before the regular season finale. Monteiro will be the lone senior for the Gamecocks in 2008.

Carolina’s spring schedule will include matches against College of Charleston, Davidson and North Carolina State. The spring season will conclude with an Alumni Game on April 19 at Stone Stadium.

WOMEN’S SOCCER 2008 SPRING SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 1 – Georgia Southern – Blanchard Woods Park (Augusta, Ga.) – 3 pm

Friday, March 21 – College of Charleston – Charleston, SC – 7 pm

Saturday, March 29 – Davidson College – Stone Stadium – 2 pm

Saturday, April 5 – NC State – Stone Stadium – 3 pm

Saturday, April 19 – ALUMNI GAME – Stone Stadium