Sept. 1, 2011

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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director

South Carolina vs. Northeastern | Friday, 7 p.m.

| Live Video Broadcast (Free) | Game Notes

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina opens its 2011 home season Friday when Northeastern travels to Eugene E. Stone III Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The game ends a four-match road trip to start the season for the Gamecocks.

The Gamecocks are coming off a 1-1-0 opening weekend in the state of Arizona. South Carolina defeated Arizona on a double-overtime golden goal before dropping a match at Arizona State. The four-match road trip to open the season is one of the longest in the nation this season.

South Carolina and Northeastern met for the first time last season in Boston when the Gamecocks ruined the Huskies’ 2010 home opener with a 3-0 victory.

ON THE HORIZON
The Gamecocks continue their road trek next week when the team travels upstate to participate in the Carolina Cup. The rivalry match between South Carolina and Clemson will be played Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Historic Riggs Field.

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN
Under second year head coach Tracey Leone, Northeastern has had a strong start to the season with a 2-1-0 record. The Huskies knocked off UCONN in Storrs in the season opener and defeated Loyola (Md.) in their last outing to give Leone her 100th career victory. A former Clemson coach, Leone is assisted by two Clemson grads – Ashley Phillips and Lindsay Massengale. With the loss of standout Devin Petta who forfeited her final two season of eligibility due to injury, Northeastern has been led by senior Veronica Napoli who has one goal and one assist along with a game-winner. Freshman Paige Burnett has earned the starting spot in goal and has responded with an early 1.00 goals against average with 16 saves and a shutout.

IN THE POLLS
South Carolina is receiving votes in the latest NSCAA and Soccer Times Coaches Polls. Top Drawer Soccer lists Carolina as No. 22 on its NCAA Tournament projection.

BUSY START
Only three teams in the country have already played four true road games without a home or neutral date to open the season. Nevada and Jacksonville State join South Carolina as the three teams thave have already opened the 2011 season with a four-match hostile slate. South Carolina has gone 2-2, Nevada has gone 1-3 and Jacksonville State has gone 0-4. The toughest start to a season will go to Syracuse, however, who opens 2011 with seven straight games away from home, with only one being a neutral site contest.

YOUNG AT HEART
South Carolina started five freshmen in its road game at Arizona State last Sunday, the most freshman to start a game for the Gamecocks since five regularly started for the team during the 2004 season. Coach Shelley Smith put out a lineup that included goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, defenders Christa Neary and Ali Whitney, midfielder Ariane Lukens and forward Alexa Gainey against the Sun Devils.

ALI ALI OXEN FREE
Freshman Ali Whitney had her collegiate coming out party at Arizona with a golden goal in the 102nd minute that gave the Gamecocks the victory. Whitney’s shot from 30 yards out sailed over the keepers head to make her just the third freshman in Gamecock history to score a golden goal, following in the footsteps of Lexi Tourtellote (Evansville – Oct. 8, 1995) and Danielle Au (Furman – Sept. 13, 2010).