Sept. 25, 2011
=”” alt=”Facebook Logo” border=”0″ class=”imported”>Gamecock Women’s Soccer on Facebook | 
=”” alt=”Twitter Logo” border=”0″ class=”imported”>Follow @GamecockWSoccer on Twitter
By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director
ATHENS, Ga. – South Carolina dropped a 2-1 double overtime decision at Georgia Sunday afternoon despite a career-high eight saves by Gamecock goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo and Kayla Grimsley scoring her 100th career point. The loss drops the Gamecocks to 7-4-0 (1-1-0 SEC) while Georgia improves to 7-3-0 (1-1-0 SEC) to put both teams into a five-way tie for first in the SEC East through one weekend of play.
The match was the fourth overtime game and third double overtime game this season for South Carolina, who also played extra minutes against Arizona, Charlotte and Tennessee. The Gamecocks were 3-0 in overtime matches before dropping Sunday’s game, including a 2-1 double-overtime win at Tennessee two days ago.
South Carolina and Georgia scored goals just 21 seconds apart in the first half with Grimsley grabbing her third goal of the year for the Gamecocks before Alexa Newfield equalized moments later with an unassisted goal. Freshman Ariane Lukens supplied the assist to Grimsley’s goal for her first career points. Grimsley’s goal was her 100th career point as a Gamecock. The senior has accumulated 38 goals and 24 assists for 100 points in 81 career games.
Newfield scored the game-winner at 105:58 in what was the second double-overtime game of the weekend for South Carolina. D’Angelo earned a career-high eight saves in the effort in goal for South Carolina. Her eight saves were the most for South Carolina in a conference match since Elise Matthews recorded 18 saves in a scoreless tie against Ole Miss on Oct. 24, 2003.
“Unfortunately, Friday night probably took its toll on us,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said of playing two double-overtime games on the weekend. “We were tired but we played hard. I was proud of the effort. We gave everything we had today. We played with heart and determination. Both teams fought and battled today. Unfortunately someone had to lose that one because the way the match went it probably should have been a tie.”
The Gamecocks began the game much in the same way they did in Knoxville Friday night with a tenacity that attacked the Georgia backline from the start of the opening whistle. Carolina pushed the Georgia defense on its heels non-stop throughout the opening 15 minutes but couldn’t get a solid shot on goal. The Bulldogs nearly took the lead out of nowhere in the 14th minute with a header by Carli Shultis that went on frame, but D’Angelo deployed a world-class kick save to keep the ball out of the net. Moments after, the Bulldogs earned a free kick inches outside the ’18, but Newfield’s shot was cleanly saved by D’Angelo to end the threat.
South Carolina looked to take the lead in the 28th after a Grimsley corner kick bang off the post and into play, but Christa Neary’s shot was blocked and the follow-up attempt by Lukens was saved. Both teams were eventually able to get on the board just five minutes later when Grimsley scored the opening goal at 33:22 before Newfield equalized just 21 seconds after the restart.
With the teams tied at halftime, Georgia applied the pressure to start the second period, but neither team threatened on goal despite both sides getting shots on frame. The Bulldogs took control at the start of the first overtime period with a service into the box in the 92nd minute, but D’Angelo was able to corral the ball despite colliding with a Bulldog attacker. Georgia’s Torri Allen broke away in the 99th but sent her shot high over the net with pressure applied by Dani Henry.
The Bulldogs threw most of their players forward in the second overtime period with hopes of scoring the go-ahead goal, but the tactic almost backfired when Danielle Au taking a counter and nearly putting one on goal. The Bulldogs were able to put the ball away with 4:02 remaining in the game when Carli Shultis’s service found Newfield’s head for a far-post goal.
South Carolina hosts Kentucky next Friday in its SEC home opener as both teams look to break out of the tie atop the SEC East standings. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in a rare Friday night double-header with the men’s team.
