April 1, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team improved to 3-0 in the spring season after defeating Davidson 1-0 Monday night at Stone Stadium.

Ashley Kirk scored the game winner for the second consecutive game, knocking in a rebound shot in the 37th minute to score the lone goal of the match. Samantha Diaz-Matosas played a perfect ball but the shot bounced up and down off the cross bar in the center of the goal. Kirk found herself in perfect position and knocked the ball in the net for the score.

The Gamecocks previously posted wins over Georgia State (3-0) and the College of Charleston (1-0), marking the third consecutive exhibition without allowing a goal despite only returning 11 players that saw action during the 2007 season. In addition to those 11, Carolina saw action from 2007 injured players Aly Shattls and Maggie Blackwell. Goalkeepers Mollie Patton and Honour Trosper are the two returning goalkeepers but neither played last season with Laura Armstrong and Lindsay Thorstenson finishing their four-year careers for the Garnet and Black last season.

South Carolina next competes against North Carolina State on Saturday, April 5 at Stone Stadium. The match will be the final spring exhibition game for the Gamecocks and is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The game follows a three-game men’s soccer exhibition tournament that will also be held at Stone Stadium that morning.

South Carolina Spring Soccer Schedule
March 1, def. Georgia State 3-0 (Augusta, Ga.)
March 21, def. College of Charleston 1-0 (Mount Pleasant, S.C.)
March 31, def. Davidson 1-0 (Columbia, S.C.)
April 5, vs. North Carolina State – 3 p.m.
April 19, ALUMNI GAME