Aug. 20, 2017
Women’s Soccer vs Florida Gulf Coast
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A second-half penalty kick goal from senior striker Savannah McCaskill lifted No. 4 South Carolina women’s soccer over Florida Gulf Coast University 2-1 Sunday night at Stone Stadium. The Gamecocks improved to 2-0-0 on the season with the win, while the Eagles dropped to 1-1-0.
McCaskill’s game-winning tally in the 70th minute was set up by Gamecock freshman midfielder Lauren Chang, who weaved around FGCU’s defense before being taken down near the left side of the box. The visitors were called for the penalty, and McCaskill stepped up to the spot and drilled the ball into the left side of the net to put Carolina in front 2-1 with just over 20 minutes to play.
The Eagles evened the match at 1-1 in the 55th minute after earning a free kick from near the top of the attacking third. FGCU midfielder Holly Fritz’s service into the box connected with Lindsey Patton, and the defender headed the ball home past the outstretched arms of Gamecock goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski. The goal marked the first score conceded by Carolina this season.
For the second-straight match, McCaskill and sophomore forward Elexa Bahr linked up to open the scoring. The two produced a similar play from Friday’s contest against UCF, as McCaskill again threaded a pass to Bahr near the top of the box. Bahr collected the service and sidestepped an FGCU defender before rifling a shot into the heart of the net in the 13th minute.
Carolina boasted the majority of the scoring chances in the opening period, and the Gamecocks nearly grabbed a 1-0 advantage on a corner kick in the 11th minute. Senior midfielder Lindsey Lane’s cross from the left side located McCaskill, who headed the ball just over the crossbar.
The Gamecocks saw another opportunity in the 65th minute when a foul by the Eagles set up a free kick for Carolina from around 40 yards away from goal. McCaskill tried her luck from distance, and the senior’s strike missed wide left and resulted in a goal kick for the Eagles.
Krzeczowski kept the FGCU in check for most of the night, coming off her line to intercept several crosses into the box. The Douglasville, Ga., native cut off a dangerous pass from the right side in the 81st minute and ended the match with four saves. Three of her four stops came over the final 45 minutes of Sunday’s contest.
Carolina outshot the Eagles 10-8 for the night and attempted six corner kicks. McCaskill and Bahr both put two attempts on frame for the Gamecocks, who totaled six shots on goal. With the win, Carolina moved to 2-0-0 all-time against the Eagles.
QUOTABLE
“It was another tough game for us. We did well to weather some things that didn’t always go our way. It was a tough opponent — they were aggressive and had some very good kids up top. I think our defense held strong and battled, and we came up with a win. The fact that we ended the weekend with two wins was an excellent start.” — South Carolina women’s soccer coach Shelley Smith
GAMECHANGER
South Carolina was awarded a penalty kick after freshman midfielder Lauren Chang maneuvered around the FGCU defense before being tackled deep inside the box. Gamecock senior standout Savannah McCaskill capped off the momentum-changing play and buried the ensuing penalty kick with a shot that sent the ball into the left side of the net.
KEY STAT
The Gamecocks limited the Eagles to just three corner kicks on the night, including zero over the first 45 minutes of Sunday’s contest. Carolina attempted five first-half corner kicks.
NOTABLE
- FGCU’s tally in the 55th minute marked just the fifth goal conceded by the Gamecocks in their last 16 home matches dating back to 2016.
- The Gamecocks sport a record of 8-1-1 in August matches since the start of the 2015 season.
- Gamecock senior attacker Savannah McCaskill earned her first career penalty kick goal in Sunday’s win over the Eagles.
- Sophomore forward Elexa Bahr has netted a goal in each of Carolina’s first two matches. She tallied just one score all of last year.
UP NEXT
South Carolina opens its road schedule on Thu., Aug. 24, in Winston, Salem, N.C., against Wake Forest. Kickoff between the Gamecocks and Demon Deacons at Spry Stadium is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
