Oct. 24, 2014

Final Stats | Printable Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 21 South Carolina (11-4-2, 4-3-2 SEC) and Vanderbilt (7-8-2, 2-5-2 SEC) played to a 1-1 draw on Friday night at the VU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. Junior Raina Johnson scored in the 29th minute for the Gamecocks.

The first serious threat of the night came off the foot of Savannah McCaskill in the seventh minute with a shot that bounced off the far post. The freshman was active early and sent a second shot high just two minutes later.

After outshooting Vanderbilt 7-1, South Carolina finally found the back of the net in the 29th. McCaskill flicked a header up to Johnson. The Gamecock beat her defender at the top of the 18 and chipped a ball that hit the crossbar near the right corner and bounced into the net for a 1-0 lead.

South Carolina took the 1-0 lead into the half after controlling possession, and continued to do so after the break.

In the 69th minute, the Gamecocks were awarded a free kick after a Vanderbilt foul, and McCaskill served the ball into the box on the play. Senior Taylor Leach sent a header towards goal that missed by just inches.

On the other end of the field 10 minutes later, Vanderbilt picked up some momentum. Lydia Simmons tested South Carolina keeper Sabrina D’Angelo for the first time of the match with a direct kick that sent the Gamecock diving to her left for a save.

D’Angelo wasn’t able to wrap up the ball on the play and Vanderbilt was awarded a corner kick. D’Angelo came off her line after the serve. Cherrelle Jarrett headed a ball sent from Taylor Richardson over D’Angelo and into the net to equalize in the 78th minute.

Johnson nearly tallied her second goal of the night to give the Gamecocks back the lead in the 85th, but the effort sailed just over the crossbar and the teams went to overtime.

Vanderbilt’s Simone Charley went streaking down the field on a counterattack looking to win it for the Commodores. After beating a few Gamecock defenders, Charley’s shot was deflected wide and the following corner kick led to nothing.

With just ninety seconds remaining, Drennan sent a shot to the upper left corner that Vanderbilt keeper Christiana Ogunsami got fingertips on to deflect over the bar. Drennan lined up the corner kick, but South Carolina couldn’t connect.

GAMECHANGER

In the 78th minute, Vanderbilt’s Cherrelle Jarrett headed a ball just over Gamecock keeper Sabrina D’Angelo to equalize the match at 1-1.

KEY STAT The Gamecocks put nine of their 22 shots on goal in the match, but found the back of the net just once.

NOTABLES

• South Carolina held Vanderbilt to two first-half shots. It’s the ninth time this season the Gamecocks allowed two shots or less in the first half.
• Raina Johnson scored her fourth goal of the season in the 29th minute. She is now tied with Sophie Groff and Savannah McCaskill for the team lead.
• Savannah McCaskill earned her fourth assist of the season on Johnson’s goal to tie Chelsea Drennan for the team lead.
• The Gamecocks are now 2-0-2 in overtime matches this season and 3-1-2 on the road.

QUOTABLE South Carolina Head Coach Shelley Smith
I thought we came and prepared well. We played well for a lot of the game, especially the first half. We got ourselves some good chances early on. There were some I thought we should have finished and we didn’t. We let the opponent hang in there. A 1-0 lead is tough. We were happy to get the goal. I thought we could have had a few more. It wasn’t a lack of effort tonight. The team battled and showed a lot of heart. We just didn’t put together the passes that we should have sometimes or some of the finishes or some of the clearances were a little sloppy. We battled and the work was there. We have to make sure we continue that work rate.

UP NEXT The Gamecocks travel to No. 6 Texas A&M for a 5 p.m. ET match up in College Station.