Sept. 10, 2010
| Coach Smith |
| Highlights |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Freshman Danielle Au had her coming out party and MAC Hermann Trophy Award candidate Kayla Grimsley hit the game winner to lead No. 21 South Carolina (4-1-1) to a 2-0 shutout of rival and previously unbeaten Clemson (5-1-0) in front of 3,017 fans at Stone Stadium.
Grimsley notched her second goal of the year in the 52nd minute to lead Carolina to its third consecutive victory against the Tigers. In that three-match span, the Gamecocks have outscored Clemson 8-0 with Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award nominee Mollie Patton earning the shutouts in all three rivalry matches. The shutout gives Patton four on the year and moves her to within seven shutouts of claiming the all-time SEC record.
Au scored the insurance goal in the 66th minute off an assist from classmate Elizabeth Sinclair. The goal was the first of Au’s career and seemed fitting after the game she played against the Tigers with six shots on goal, including a strike in the 55th that clanged off the top of the post.
Clemson freshman goalkeeper Lauren Arnold took the loss in the net with eight saves. The Gamecock defense stifled the Tigers throughout the night in claiming a 22-5 shot advantage, including a 10-5 edge in shots on goal and an 11-3 differential in corner kicks.
South Carolina came out as a team determined to continue its winning streak against its rival by starting strong on the attack and never relenting. After two offsides calls in the opening five minutes, Carolina calmed down enough to begin putting shots on the board. Grimsley had two headers off Brooke Jacobs corner kicks that both went just wide in the opening 10 minutes of the match. The South Carolina crowd gathered to its feet in the 13th when Jacobs earned space before her open 1v1 attempt on Arnold went wide.
Patton wasn’t tested by the Clemson offense until the 23rd minute when Tiger forward Maddy Elder sent a strike across the net that required an acrobatic save to keep the game scoreless. South Carolina went into the half with a 9-4 edge in shots and early missed chances, but the Gamecocks would begin to convert in a second half where they took a 13-1 shot advantage.
Grimsley’s goal at 51:17 off an assist by Jacobs moved the junior forward to No. 2 on the all-time scoring list alongside former Gamecock Morgan McIntyre. Grimsley, already second on the all-time assists list in just her third season, has pulled together career numbers of 23 goals and 17 assists for 63 points, trailing only all-time great Jennie Ondo’s 115 career points from 1996-99.
Au claimed the insurance goal at 65:59 after a shot within 12 yards by Sinclair deflected backwards, allowing Au to score the goal.
South Carolina returns to the pitch Sunday afternoon when the team hosts Furman at 2:30 p.m. in the final game of the Carolina’s Cup. Clemson and High Point will play at 12 noon.
