Sept. 2, 2016
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina women’s soccer (3-0-1) kicks off a four-game homestand against No. 6 Clemson (3-1-0) on Sat., Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. before continuing non-conference action on Mon., Sept. 5, against Charlotte (2-2-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday’s match against the Tigers will be broadcast on SEC Network+, available through WatchESPN. A point in the Palmetto Series will also be up for grabs when South Carolina and Clemson square off.
This fall, South Carolina soccer matches are included in the Athletics Department’s new clear bag policy for all ticketed athletics events in a move designed to provide a safer environment and more expedited entry for fans. The Athletics Department encourages fans to not bring any type of bag to games, but understands that there are some who prefer to do so. The new policy will limit the size and type of bags that may be brought into South Carolina Athletics events. Information on the Clear Bag Policy and other Game Day Policies can be found online.
This fall, South Carolina soccer matches are included in the Athletics Department’s new clear bag policy for all ticketed athletics events in a move designed to provide a safer environment and more expedited entry for fans. The Athletics Department encourages fans to not bring any type of bag to games, but understands that there are some who prefer to do so. The new policy will limit the size and type of bags that may be brought into South Carolina Athletics events. Information on the Clear Bag Policy and other Game Day Policies can be found online.
FROM THE COACH
“This will be our biggest challenge so far with it being a rivalry game. We’re excited about where we are heading into the contest. It is such a big game, and it’s back-and-forth every year. It’s two of the top teams in the country, and it sets up for a tremendous game overall. There’s a lot of pride for both teams, and they’re both always up for it.” – Shelley Smith
SCOUTING CLEMSON
Sixth-ranked Clemson enters Saturday’s contest at 3-1 on the season, with its lone loss coming on the road to then-No. 6 West Virginia on Aug. 26. The Tigers, who have allowed just two goals on the year, earned a 2-0 victory in their other road match of the season against No. 12 Auburn on Aug. 19. Senior midfielder Catrina Atanda leads Clemson with six points on three goals, while freshman midfielder Julie Mackin and senior defender Jenna Weston have each tallied a pair of assists. 2015 All-America goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan has played in two games since representing Canada at the Olympics, registering eight saves and allowing one goal. South Carolina is 5-5-1 at home all-time against Clemson, which returns all 11 starters from last year’s squad that earned the No. 2 seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Saturday will mark the first meeting between the two at Stone Stadium since the Gamecocks moved past the Tigers in penalty kicks in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
SCOUTING CHARLOTTE
The 49ers, who sit at 2-2 this fall, are led by forwards Megan Greene and Martha Thomas. The pair of attackers have each totaled seven points on the season, while Thomas, the 2016 Conference USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, leads the team with five assists. Redshirt sophomore Anna Shelden has started all four matches in net. She has seven saves in 2016 to go along with a 2.04 goals against average. Charlotte, which plays host to Mercer on Friday, has won one of its three road matches this year, defeating Georgia State 4-1 on Aug. 26. South Carolina has won its last three matches against the 49ers, including a 4-1 decision last season on the road. The Gamecocks are 2-2 all-time at home against Charlotte.
REWINDING LAST WEEK
South Carolina won each of its last two matches last week to push its winning streak to three games. The Gamecocks cruised in their home opener against NC State on Aug. 25, earning a 3-0 victory. Seniors Bay Daniel, Paige Bendell and Chelsea Drennan all found the back of the net, while Savannah McCaskill matched a career high with two assists. Freshman goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski notched her first career shutout and win in the victory over the Wolfpack. The Gamecocks picked up their first road win of the season on Sunday in a 2-1 comeback victory over UCF. Forward Simone Wark tallied the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, as the sophomore netted her second career game-winner. Drennan scored on a penalty kick in the 57th minute after the Knights were called for a hand ball in the box. With two goals this season, Drennan has already improved on her scoring output from last fall.
SOUTH CAROLINA AGAINST TOP-10 OPPONENTS
The Gamecocks have gone 3-2 in their last five matches against top-10 opponents. South Carolina took down two top-10 foes at Stone Stadium last season, defeating No. 4 Texas A&M (Sept. 24) and No. 8 Auburn (Oct. 8), and it moved past No. 6 North Carolina in the 2014 NCAA Tournament to reach the quarterfinals. The Gamecocks’ first win over a top-10 opponent came at home against Clemson in the 1996 season, and they downed the seventh-ranked Tigers again in Columbia in 2004. Overall, South Carolina sports a mark of 11-21-2 against teams ranked in the top 10.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Since 2013, South Carolina boasts a record of 29-5-1 in matches played at “The Graveyard”. The Gamecocks recorded the program’s first undefeated home season (11-0-0) in 2013, and they have gone 136-54-12 overall at Stone Stadium, good for a .703 winning percentage.
BOLSTER FROM THE BACK
South Carolina’s back line has delivered on both ends of the field this season. Senior center backs Kaleigh Kurtz and Paige Bendell have combined for three goals, while junior left back Anna Conklin has added a pair of assists. The Gamecock defense has allowed just three goals on the year, and each of South Carolina’s last three opponents have been held to three or fewer shots on goal.
GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
The Gamecocks’ win over UCF on Sunday pushed their record in August matches to 9-1-1 since 2013. South Carolina has outscored teams 27-9 throughout that stretch.
RECORD BOOK WATCH
With a pair of assists in South Carolina’s home opener against NC State (Aug. 25), Savannah McCaskill moved up two lists in the program’s record book. Her 16 career assists are tied for fifth all-time, and the junior forward is in a tie for sixth on the all-time points list with 52. Senior midfielder Chelsea Drennan inched closer to the school assist record (33) after adding one against the Wolfpack to bring her total to 31. She stands three away from South Carolina’s game-winning assists record (12) with nine for her career.
UP NEXT
Following Monday’s match against the 49ers, the Gamecocks will open SEC play at home against Georgia on Fri., Sept. 9, at Stone Stadium. Kickoff between South Carolina and the Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. ET.
