June 29, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team has announced that it will open the 2009 campaign with an exhibition match against the Mexican national team. Sponsored by the Carolina Elite Soccer Academic (CESA), the game is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. and will be played at the MESA Soccer Complex in Greenville, S.C.
“I think this will be an exciting opportunity for our players to face an opponent unlike most of the opponents they have ever had the experience of playing against,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said. “It will be a great learning experience in addition to giving us a chance to put some things together on the field at the end of preseason. Although there should be many supporters for the Mexican team, the international fans bring their love for the game and a great enthusiasm to the crowd. We will enjoy playing in front of them, regardless of who they are cheering for.”
The Gamecocks boast a roster with five players that were members of CESA during their prep careers, including seniors Shannon Bigbie and Blakely Mattern, sophomores Maggie Blackwell and Kira Campbell along with incoming freshman Rae Wilson. CESA has been a consistent supporter of South Carolina’s soccer programs over the years.
“We have worked with CESA in the past and this as a good opportunity for them to bring a great game to South Carolina for their club teams to watch in their backyard,” Smith said. “CESA helped make it happen by helping with the costs of hosting Mexico, and we look forward to bringing our team to another part of the state. Young players in our country don’t get enough exposure to higher-level soccer on the TV like other countries, although it has improved. I commend CESA for recognizing the opportunity this gives their players, and I am glad we can be a part of it.”
The exhibition will be Carolina’s first since the 2005 season and will provide the coaching staff with the opportunity to observe the team compete against an opponent before starting the season.
“We were trying to sort out the team still as we opened last year at UNC Wilmington and ended up with a draw,” Smith said. “I think being prepared for the first game with a preseason match will help us get through that adjustment period. Last year half the team was comprised of freshmen, but we grew quickly. We should be well prepared as we start this year’s season.”
South Carolina opens its season at home against College of Charleston on Thursday, Aug. 27th, the first game between the in-state rivals since the 2002 season. The Gamecocks lost only one senior from a roster of 28 and return 10 starters from the 2008 squad that went 11-7-4 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, a program first. South Carolina will welcome seven freshmen and two transfer players for the 2010 season.
