Oct. 31, 2013
| Highlights |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – With one of the top senior classes in program history ending their final regular season at home tonight, it took a dramatic come-from-behind win for South Carolina (15-2-2, 8-2-1) to top Kentucky 2-1 at Stone Stadium. With the win, this year’s team became the first in program history to go 10-0 at home in a season, while also finishing with the best regular season winning percentage (.842) in school history.
After some early pressure from the Gamecocks that led to a pair corners and header from redshirt senior Rae Wilson that was popped up over the crossbar, the Wildcats pounced on the their first opportunity of the game in the 15th minute. On a free kick from over 40 yards out, Kentucky’s Kaitlin Miller sent a ball deep into the box where Cara Ledman was able get her head on to it and flick it into the back of the net.
South Carolina ramped up its pressure from that point, firing off seven shots compared to Kentucky’s two during the remaining 30 minutes of the half, but shots were either just wide, high or blocked by Wildcat defenders. Junior defender Christa Neary had the best chance of the half with just over 30 seconds remaining, but her header to far post was stopped on the line a by Kentucky defender.
It didn’t take too long into the second half though for the Garnet and Black to equalize. In the 52nd minute, a long ball was sent toward the top of the Kentucky box as senior Danielle Au took off to track it down. Kentucky keeper Kayla King ran out to make a play on the ball, but ran through the Gamecock striker just inside the 18. King was called for the foul, issued a yellow cared and Au was award a penalty kick. The senior calmly buried the shot into the upper left corner to knot-up the match.
With only half chances coming throughout the next 20-plus minutes, the game appeared that it could be headed to extra time, but in the 83rd minute sophomore Coryn Bajema sprung fellow sophomore Raina Johnson free on a pass through a pack of Wildcats. Johnson hit a left-footed shot from just outside the six that found the inside of the far post to give the Gamecocks the lead. It was her team-leading eighth goal of the season and fifth game-winner of the year.
South Carolina would finish the match with a decided 16-7 shot advantage, as well as posting an 11-3 edge in corners.
Next up for the Gamecocks will be a showdown with Georgia in Orange Beach, Ala. in the SEC quarterfinals on Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET. South Carolina is the No. 3 seed while Georgia is the No. 6 seed.
