Oct. 3, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C.– The Gamecocks rebounded nicely last weekend after dropping their first game of the season on Sept. 20 at Georgia, picking up a pair of wins against Auburn and Arkansas at home. The team hits the road this week for a tough double with games at No. 8/12 Florida on Friday night and Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. The match at Tennessee will air live on ESPNU at 3 p.m., ET.

WEEKEND INFORMATION
Date/Opponent: Friday, Oct. 4 at Florida
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
| Live Video
Location: Gainesville, Fla.

Stadium: James G. Pressly Stadium

Date/Opponent: Sunday, Oct. 6 at Tennessee
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
| ESPNU
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.

Stadium: Regal Soccer Stadium

Game Notes

On The Horizon
After a pair of tough road tests, South Carolina will return home on Oct. 11 for a clash with Alabama at 7 p.m., in its only match of the weekend.

Scouting Florida
The Gators are coming off of their first conference loss of the season and only their second of the season, falling 1-0 at Missouri despite outshooting the Tigers 21-10. Florida won its first two matches of SEC play over Alabama and Ole Miss by a combined score of 7-1.

Florida’s attack is led by one of the top scorer’s in the country in freshman Savannah Jordan who has 11 of the team’s 25 goals. The defense is anchored by junior goalkeeper Taylor Burke who is 6-0-1 with four shutouts on the season while splitting time with freshman Nora Neset Gjoen.

All-Time vs. Florida
The Gamecocks are 3-20-1 all-time against the Gators, one win at home, on the road and at the SEC Tournament. Florida won last year’s contest 3-0 in Columbia, S.C. Carolina earned its only victory in Gainesville, Fla., two years ago in a 2-1 game behind Danielle Au’s game-winner. The Gamecocks have knocked off the Gators twice since the 2009 SEC Tournament.

Scouting Tennessee
The Lady Vols were dealt their first loss in conference play last time out, falling 4-2 to Alabama after allowing three goals in the first 31 minutes. They opened up SEC competition on Oct. 20 with a 1-0 win over Texas A&M at home on a Caroline Brown penalty kick.

New Zealand national team player Hannah Wilkinson leads the Tennessee with five goals, while Brown has chipped in four. Junior goalkeeper Julie Eckel heads into the weekend with a 0.79 goals against average and five shutouts.

All-Time vs. Tennessee
The Gamecocks are 5-12-2 all-time versus the Lady Vols, winning five straight prior to last season’s 1-0 defeat in Columbia, S.C. Since the 2007 SEC Tournament, Carolina is 5-0 against Tennessee when scoring two goals.

Defensive Wall
As we’ve crossed the midpoint of the season, the Garnet and Black’s backline has proved to be one of the best in the country, whether it has been with their physical play, potential goal-saving blocks, the group has allowed only four goals on 93 shots through 11 games. As a team, Carolina is tied for third in shutouts (8), tied for fifth in shutout percentage (.727), fifth in goals against average (.356) and 13th in save percentage (.886) in the NCAA.

Canadian Stopper
After a tough sophomore season after returning from the U-20 World Cup, junior goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo is back at her best this season as she currently ranks as one of the top keepers in the nation. The native of Welland, Ontario, is tied for second in the nation in shutouts with eight, while she is also seventh in goals against average (.356) and tied for 17th in save percentage (.882).

D’Angelo’s eight shutouts in 11 games has already doubled her previous season-best total. She passed her previous best of four against SMU after stopping a potential game-tying penalty kick in the 66th minute. With 15 career shutouts, she is tied for second all-time in South Carolina history with Laura Armstrong and Elise Matthews.