Sept. 11, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – This weekend, No. 16 South Carolina hits the road to round out its 2014 non-conference schedule at the USF Soccer Classic in Tampa, Fla. On Friday, the Gamecocks face host USF at 7 p.m. before a 2 p.m. Sunday meeting with Florida Gulf Coast University. The matchups, both in USF’s Corbett Stadium, will be the first meeting between the Gamecocks and the Sunshine State programs. South Carolina has not played on the road since its 2-0 season-opening win at East Carolina on Aug. 22.
WEEKEND INFORMATION
Date/Opponent: Fri., Sept. 12 at USF
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Stadium: Corbett Stadium
Free Live Stats
Date/Opponent: Sun., Sept. 14 vs. Florida Gulf Coast
Kickoff: 2 p.m. ET
Stadium: Corbett Stadium
Free Live Stats
SCOUTING SOUTH FLORIDA
USF (3-2-1) has not dropped a result since starting the season 0-2. Currently on a three-match winning streak, the Bulls have secured wins over Florida Gulf Coast (1-0), Middle Tennessee State (3-0) and Kennesaw State (1-0). Sophomore Leticia Skeeete leads the way for USF, posting all three game-winning goals this season. Three other Bulls have scored goals, helping the team outscore their opponents 6-4. Freshman Thordis Aikman has taken over the goalkeeping reigns, recording three-straight shutouts and allowing just one goal.
SCOUTING FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY
Florida Gulf Coast University has outscored their opponents 10-3 on their way to a 4-1-0 record. After wins over Arizona and Miami, the Eagles dropped a contest to the Gamecocks’ Friday opponent USF before securing shutout victories over FIU (2-0) and Murray State (4-0). Sophomore Tabby Tindell leads both the Eagles and the Atlantic Sun in goals (6) and points (14) this season and averages 1.92 points per game in her career. Twice this season, Tindell has been named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week and earned Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honors. Her most recent recognition came after a pair of game-winning goals over FIU and Murray State en route to a three-goal, two-assist week. Sophomore Ashley Parks was named Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season thanks in large part to her assist that led to the game-winning goal in a road victory at Miami. FGCU has won the last four A-Sun Regular Season Championships and earned NCAA Tournament bids in 2011 and 2012. The Gamecocks will be FGCU’s second contest against a ranked opponent this week. The Eagles travel to College Station, Texas, to face No. 12 Texas A&M on Thursday.
STATE OF DEFENSE
As of games through Sept. 7, the Gamecocks are one of just 20 Division I teams to allow one goal or less this season. South Carolina is one of just five teams that has played six games this season and allowed just one goal. Senior goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo and the Gamecocks boast the No. 9 goals against average in the country at 0.163. South Carolina is outshooting their opponents 85-25 and has allowed just 11 shots on goal.
SHUTOUT START
With a pair of 2-0 wins at East Carolina and at home over Samford to open the season followed by a 1-0 double-overtime thriller against No. 22 Boston University and a 2-0 decision over Milwaukee, South Carolina opened the season with four-consecutive shutouts for the second-straight season. The Gamecocks allowed just 11 total shots in their first four matches, fewest in the SEC, and was the only league team that did not allow a point in the first four matches of the 2014 season.
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
After taking Friday off, South Carolina dives into conference play with a trip to Auburn on Sun., Sept. 21. The 1 p.m. ET match is set for broadcast on the SEC Network. While all home matches have been broadcast on the SEC Network+ digital channel, this will mark the first on the linear television channel.
