Sept. 23, 2010
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By Miquel Jacobs
Media Relations Assistant
| South Carolina at Vanderbilt | Friday, 8 p.m. (ET) |
 | Live Video Broadcast  | Game Notes  |
| South Carolina at Kentucky | Sunday, 2 p.m. (ET) |
| | Game Notes |
| Danielle Au Feature |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 23 South Carolina opens its SEC schedule on the road for the first time since the 2007 season when the Gamecocks travel to take on Vanderbilt and Kentucky on the weekend. South Carolina will play Vanderbilt Friday night at 8 p.m. (ET) before taking on Kentucky Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. (ET).
ON THE HORIZON
South Carolina returns to Stone Stadium next week with two SEC matches that will be broadcast on television. The Gamecocks will host Ole Miss Friday night at 7 p.m. in a game that will be nationally televised by the Fox Soccer Channel. Carolina will then host Mississippi State on Sunday at 2 p.m. in a game televised regionally by CSS.
SCOUTING VANDERBILT
Vanderbilt enters SEC play with a 4-4-0 record and has played two common non-conference opponents with South Carolina, following 2-1 to Minnesota and 4-1 to Wake Forest. This season is the final year for All-SEC performer Molly Kinsella, who has one goal and two assists for four points. Her twin sister, Megan, has recorded two goals and three assists for seven points. Sophomore Dana Schwartz has come off the bench to lead the Commodores in scoring with three goals and an assist. Senior Rachel Bachtel has recorded three clean sheets and 27 saves in goal with a 1.35 goals against average.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
Year Two under Coach Lipsitz has seen the program enter SEC play with a 6-2-0 record that includes a 2-1 victory against then-No. 15 Virginia Tech earlier this month. Freshman Kelsey Hunyadi leads the team with four goals while classmate Taylor Parker has earned five assists and a goal for seven points. Senior Sydney Hiance has been strong in goal with four shutouts and a 0.63 goals against average. The Wildcats have yet to allow a goal at the UK Soccer Complex.
AU SO GOOD!
Freshman Danielle Au had an impact weekend at the Carolina’s Cup with two goals, including the game-winner against Furman in overtime. She became the first Gamecock freshman (and second ever!) to score a golden goal since Lexi Tourtellotte (the only other to achieve the feat) did it against Evansville (Oct. 16, 1995) – a span of 15 seasons and 56 overtime games. For her efforts, Au was named the tournament MVP and picked up SEC Freshman of the Week and CollegeSoccer360.com Primetime Performer of the Week honors.
MORE ON AU
Au has scored a goal in three of South Carolina last four games, including hitting the game-winning goals against Furman and Wake Forest. Au’s game-winner against Wake Forest continued her record trend as she became just the second Gamecock freshman to ever hit a game-winning goal to defeat a ranked opponent. The only other was Mindy Sanders who score the game-winner in a 3-2 win against No. 9 Clemson (Sept. 18, 1996), the first game against a ranked opponent in South Carolina history.
NEW-LOOK GRIMSLEY
Junior Kayla Grimsley, an All-American candidate at forward, has been called upon to play many roles for the youthful Gamecocks in 2010, Already one of the most prolific scorers in Gamecock history, Grimsley has added to her M.O. as a distributionist as well. With five assists already on the season – three coming on game-winning goals – Grimsley moves to No. 2 on the South Carolina all-time list with 18 in her career, behind the 24 put up by Mindy Sanders from 1996-99. Already in the Carolina top three in nearly every offensive category (including goals, assists and points), Grimsley entered the season with the freshman (6) and sophomore (7) records for single-season assists. She needs just one more to also set the junior record.
PASSES BY PETRONI
Junior Maria Petroni had one of her best weekends last week while adjusting to her new role as a starting forward. Petroni scored an assist against both #23 Minnesota and #22 Wake Forest – her first two of the year – to give her a point in each of Carolina’s last two games.
