Dec. 16, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Honors continue to pile up for goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo and defender Taylor Leach as the pair of seniors earned spots on the TopDrawerSoccer.com Best XI Teams today. This is D’Angelo second-straight first-team honor, while Leach garnered her first nod from the outlet with a spot on the third team.
D’Angelo became the program’s first two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) First-Team All-American after notching 10 shutouts this season. The Welland, Ontario, native owns 29 career clean sheets, 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 notched a shutout 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, in the Gamecock’s second-ever Round of 16 appearance. South Carolina posted a 14-6-5 mark this season and was No. 9 in the NSCAA final poll, matching the 2009 season as the best-ever final ranking.
TopDrawerSoccer.com Postseason Best XI Teams
First Team
GK: Sabrina D’Angelo, South Carolina
D: Kristin Grubka, Florida State
D: Abby Dahlkemper, UCLA
D: Kadeisha Buchanan, West Virginia
M: Sam Mewis, UCLA
M: Morgan Brian, Virginia
M: Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Florida State
M: Sarah Killion, UCLA
F: Makenzy Doniak, Virginia
F: Janine Beckie, Texas Tech
F: Shea Groom, Texas A&M
Second Team
GK: Katelyn Rowland, UCLA
D: Emily Sonnett, Virginia
D: Jaelene Hinkle, Texas Tech
D: Arin Gilliland, Kentucky
M: Rose Lavelle, Wisconsin
M: Lo’eau LaBonta, Stanford
M: Danielle Colaprico, Virginia
M: Daphne Corboz, Georgetown
F: Savannah Jordan, Florida
F: Lynn Williams, Pepperdine
F: Jannelle Flaws, Illinois
Third Team
GK: Genevieve Richard, Wisconsin
D: Meghan Streight, Texas A&M
D: Taylor Leach, South Carolina
D: Whitney Church, Penn State
M: Havana Solaun, Florida
M: Liana Salazar, Kansas
M: Kelley Monogue, Texas A&M
M: Sofia Huerta, Santa Clara
F: Stephanie Verdoia, Seattle
F: Cheyna Williams, Florida State
F: Rachel Tejada, Illinois State
