Oct. 14, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina junior defender Samantha Diaz-Matosas has been named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week for her efforts in Carolina’s 2-0 SEC weekend that included a goal and two assists for four points.

Diaz-Matosas had a career weekend for the Gamecocks that featured a combination of her old and new positions as she contributed on the defensive and offensive ends. In a 2-1 win against Mississippi State, Diaz-Matosas was instrumental on the back line in helping the team limit the Bulldogs to only four shots in the game – just two of them on goal. The Bulldogs did not get their first shot until 22 minutes in the game with the second coming in the 63rd minute. She also registered an assist to Kayla Grimsley on a goal in the third minute with a long free kick.

In a battle for second place in the SEC standings, Diaz-Matosas again helped keep the Rebels off the scoreboard in the first half before leading Carolina to a 3-2 victory with a little offense. A freshman starter at forward two years ago, Diaz-Matosas registered her second assist of the weekend to pull Carolina up 2-0 before knocking in the game-winning goal at 87:33. The goal was her second of the season and both have gone on to be game-winners.

Her four-point weekend matched her entire offensive input from last season. She currently has two goals and two assists for six points and is tied for the team lead with two game-winning goals. She has also helped the defense limit opponents to an average of nine shots per game, second-best in the SEC.

South Carolina hits the road again this weekend as it travels to the state of Alabama to take on two SEC Western division opponents. The Gamecocks take on Alabama (8-5-1; 3-3-0 SEC) Friday at 8 p.m. ET before traveling to play Auburn (7-6-2; 3-2-1 SEC) Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Gamecocks went 2-0 against the two teams last season at Stone Stadium.