Dec. 3, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Seniors Sabrina D’Angelo and Taylor Leach were honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America on Wednesday as they were named to the Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women’s All-South Region First Team.

Today’s announcement marks the third First-Team All-South selection of D’Angelo’s career. Leach earned second team honors last season.

D’Angelo, a senior goalkeeper from Welland, Ontario, notched 10 shutouts this season to bring her career total to 29, just three behind school record holder Mollie Patton. Allowing just 0.58 goals a game this season (14th nationally), D’Angelo surrendered more than one goal just twice in 2014 (3-2 W vs. No. 5 Florida, 2-2 T at No. 6 Texas A&M). In all, just 13 goals were scored on the netminder this year, a total that topped the SEC. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, D’Angelo posted a clean sheet vs. rival Clemson and made two pivotal saves in the penalty kick shootout to advance the Gamecocks to the second round. The unforgettable performance would be her last in the Garnet and Black as injury prevented the four-time All-SEC honoree from playing in South Carolina’s final three NCAA contests.

Leach combined with D’Angelo to captain the top defense in the conference yet again. The centerback and the Gamecocks led the conference in nearly every statistical average in the regular season, including goals allowed (11), goals against average (0.58), shots on goal allowed (60) and points allowed (31). The South Carolina backline limited 10 of its 11 league opponents to 5 shots on goal or less. The defense was fierce during the team’s run to the NCAA quarterfinals, shutting out No. 22 Clemson in the opening round, Seattle, who boasted the No. 3 offense in the country, in the second round and No. 6 North Carolina on its home field in the Round of 16 despite losing D’Angelo to injury after the Clemson contest. Leach also scored a pair of goals in the season opener at ECU. Last month, Leach earned First-Team All-SEC recognition for the second straight season.

South Carolina advanced to the program’s first NCAA Quarterfinal after shutting out No. 6 North Carolina, 1-0, to advance to the program’s second-ever Round of 16. The Gamecocks finished the season 14-6-5.