Oct. 7, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The No. 10 South Carolina women’s soccer team hosts No. 8 Auburn in a top-10 SEC match-up on Thursday at Stone Stadium. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. and will be televised on the SEC Network.
Leading the Nation
Through seven games at Stone Stadium, the Gamecocks are leading the nation in home attendance with 23,473 total fans. South Carolina’s average of 3,353 per contest ranks second in the nation. The Gamecocks sold 1,000 season tickets for the first time in program history. (Men and women’s soccer season tickets are sold together as one ticket)
Atop The SEC
With only six conference matches remaining in the regular season, including Thursday’s contest against the Tigers, South Carolina leads the SEC with 13 points and has just a one-point advantage over second-place Auburn.
The Gamecocks (4-0-1) are the only remaining unbeaten team in league play after a 2-2 draw at Arkansas last week.
Offense on Fire
Through 12 games this season South Carolina has scored 33 goals compared to last year’s squad that netted 32 all season. The Gamecocks have had 15 different goal scorers, which is the most of any SEC school. South Carolina also leads the league with five different players who have scored at least two goals against a conference opponent.
In the Rankings
The Gamecocks are No. 10 in this week’s NSCAA rankings, No. 12 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com poll and ranked seventh by Soccer America. South Carolina is No. 15 in the latest RPI released by the NCAA.
Nine is Fine
The Gamecocks are riding a nine-game unbeaten streak heading into this Thursday’s match. South Carolina went unbeaten for 14 consecutive games that 2009. South Carolina’s 2-2 draw at Auburn last week ended an eight-game winning streak.
Looking Back
Last week the Gamecocks earned a 2-2 draw at Arkansas. Freshman Simone Wark and sophomore Anna Conklin provided the goals, each tallying their second score against a SEC opponent. Arkansas’s two goals were the most for an SEC opponent against South Carolina this season. The Gamecocks entered the match with a 9-2 goal advantage in league play in 2015.
By The Numbers
South Carolina holds a 201-82 shot advantage over opponents through 12 games. The Gamecocks have put 102 of 201 shots on target, compared to opponents getting just 33 shots on goal. South Carolina averages 16.8 shots per game and is outscoring opponents 33-11. Averaging 2.75 goals per contest, the Gamecocks have eighth highest scoring offense in the country while their 98 points and 33 goals rank sixth and tied for seventh, respectively.
South Carolina’s 33 goals and 98 points rank first in the SEC. The Gamecocks also rank first in the conference goals per game (2.75), assists (31) and assists per game (2.58) and their 201 shots are the fifth most in the league. South Carolina is tied for fifth in fewest goals allowed with 11 and has the fifth best goals against average (0.89).
In SEC contests the Gamecocks are tied for first in fewest goals allowed with four, have the second lowest goals against average of 0.77 and one of only three teams to record to or more shutouts against league opponents. South Carolina ranks second in points (32), goals (11), goals per game (2.20), assists (10), assists per game (2.00) and fourth in shots (76).
Scouting Auburn
The Tigers are 11-1-0 on the year after a 2-1 (2OT) victory at Alabama and a 3-2 win over then No. 9 Florida last week. Junior Cassie Ramsier leads the team with eight goals and 18 points. Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau has started all 12 contests for the Tigers allowing just nine goals and tallying 43 saves. She has recorded five shutouts this season.
Series History
South Carolina leads the all-time series with Auburn 9-6-3. The Gamecocks won last meeting with the Razorbacks on Sept. 29, 2013. Raina Johnson netted the game-winner in the 1-0 victory.
175
The Gamecocks’ 3-1 victory over Georgia on Sept. 11 was Head Coach Shelley Smith 175th win at South Carolina. With the Gamecocks’ victory over Alabama she has 179 wins at South Carolina and 220 in her career.
McCaskill In The Lead
Forward Savannah McCaskill leads South Carolina in goals (8), points (20), shots (29), and shots on goal (17). The sophomore has also tallied four assists. She is tied for fifth in the SEC in goals and points. McCaskill, who was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2014, has already surpassed her scoring output of five goals from her rookie campaign.
Assisted By Drennan
Junior midfielder Chelsea Drennan has recorded a team-high seven assists. Her 26 career assists rank second all-time in school history and she just seven shy of the school record (33). Drennan’s seven assists and 0.58 assists pre game are tied for first in the league.
Johnson Wins The Game
Senior forward Raina Johnson netted the game-winner in South Carolina’s matches against Texas A&M and Alabama. Johnson scored in the 89th minute to break a 1-1 tie in the Gamecocks’ 2-1 victory over the Aggies and opened scoring in the sixth minute in a 3-0 win over the Crimson Tide. Her two game-winning goals against SEC opponents goals put her in a tie for first in the league. Johnson ranks second in SEC contests with three assists and 0.60 assists per game. She is also tied for fourth with seven points and 1.40 points per game.
Two For Groff
Junior forward Sophie Groff scored a pair of goals in two games this season (Coastal Carolina and Kennesaw State), including a game-winner in both contests. Groff also scored in the Gamecocks 3-0 win over Alabama. Her six goals and 16 points tie for 10th in the SEC and in conference matches she is tied for fourth with six points and two goals.
Rookies Are Rolling
Newcomers Carrie Lawrence, Courtney Kaplan and Simone Wark have found the back of the net early in their freshman campaigns, each tallying at least one goal this season. Wark scored the game-winner in the Gamecocks’ 1-0 win at Missouri and earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors for her efforts. She also netted the equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Arkansas.
Room For Two
Senior Caroline Kelly and sophomore Abbey Crider have split time in the net this season. Crider is perfect 5-0-0 on the year with two shutouts. She has made eight saves and has a goals against average of 0.83. Crider earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for her performance against Texas A&M and Alabama. Kelly is 5-1-1 on the year with one shutout. She has made 13 saves and has a goals against average of 0.94. In SEC contests, Kelly and Crider rank tied for first and second, respectively, with goals against averages of 0.73 and 0.80.
Home Field Advantage
This season the Gamecocks are 7-0 at Stone Stadium. South Carolina posted an 8-3-1 record at “The Graveyard” last season and in 2013 the Gamecocks streaked to a perfect 11-0-0 record at home, the first in program history.
It’s A First
Sophomores Anna Conklin and Dominique Babbitt and junior Kaleigh Kurtz have all scored their first career goal this season.
The Fast Lane
Sophomore midfielder Lindsey Lane netted the game winner in the Gamecocks’ double overtime victory over Oklahoma. Three of Lane’s four career goals have been game- winners.
Gray For The Win
Senior defender Caroline Gray scored the game-winner in South Carolina’s season opener against Northeastern; the goal was the first of her career.
Up Next
The Gamecocks travel to Ole Miss on Sun., Oct. 11 before returning home to host Vanderbilt Fri., Oct. 16.
