No. 3 Gamecocks Begin Road Play Thursday At Wake Forest
Aug. 23, 2017
#3 Women’s Soccer vs. Wake Forest
COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 3 South Carolina women’s soccer is set to face Wake Forest on Thu., Aug. 24, in its first road match of the season. Kickoff from Spry Stadium is slated for 7 p.m. ET, and the game can be seen on ACC Network Extra through WatchESPN.
FROM THE COACH
“This is our first road test, and it’s something new for teams to learn. It’s a test, and as we get through the season we don’t expect everything to be perfect. Every situation is a learning opportunity. We hope to improve each week, and we’re prepared to take on a really good opponent. Wake Forest is an excellent side as always, and they have some new faces as well. We faced each other recently in the spring, and I know both of us will have a different look. It will be a very good test.” — Shelley Smith
SCOUTING WAKE FOREST
The Demon Deacons opened their 2017 campaign with a pair of road wins over Georgia and Davidson. Wake Forest topped the Bulldogs 1-0 in last Friday’s season opener (Aug. 18) before posting a commanding 4-0 victory over Davidson this past Sunday (Aug. 20). Junior midfielder Peyton Perea netted the game-winner in the 39th minute against Georgia, while freshman defender Hannah Betfort totaled two goals against the Wildcats.
Wake Forest was selected to finish ninth in the ACC this season after returning 14 letterwinners from last year’s squad that posted a mark of 10-8-0. The Demon Deacons have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 18 times, and their last appearance came in 2013.
The Gamecocks sport a mark of 1-1-3 against Wake Forest. South Carolina’s lone win against the Demon Deacons came in a 2010 when it earned a 1-0 victory on the road.
OPENING WEEKEND RECAP
South Carolina kicked off its season with back-to-back home wins over UCF and Florida Gulf Coast this past weekend at Stone Stadium. The Gamecocks earned a shutout against the Knights last Friday (Aug. 18) behind goals from sophomore striker Elexa Bahr and freshman midfielder Lauren Chang and a strong defensive effort that limited UCF to just one shot on goal.
Bahr found the back of the net again on Sunday (Aug. 20) against the Eagles, tallying a goal in the 13th minute to put Carolina ahead 1-0. FGCU pulled even off a set piece tally in the 55th minute before the Gamecocks reclaimed the lead on a penalty kick 15 minutes later. Chang earned the penalty kick, and senior striker Savannah McCaskill converted from the spot after firing a shot into the left side of the net. The goal marked the first career penalty kick tally for McCaskill, who registered her 13th career game-winner in the victory over FGCU.
SOUTH CAROLINA IN ROAD OPENERS
South Carolina enters this season with an all-time record of 8-9-5 in road openers. The Gamecocks are unbeaten in four of their last five road openers, earning three draws throughout the stretch. Carolina, which went undefeated (6-0-1) in road matches last season, sports a mark of 7-4-5 in road openers under head coach Shelley Smith.
PRESEASON SEC POLL
The SEC coaches selected South Carolina to finish third in the league with Florida and Texas A&M claiming the top two spots. The Gamecocks defeated the Aggies 1-0 on the road last season behind a late game-winner from forward Savannah McCaskill, and they topped Florida at home on an overtime penalty kick goal from Chelsea Drennan. Seven of the last eight contests between Carolina and Florida have been decided by one goal or less.
Five Gamecocks were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List — seniors Dominique Babbitt, Anna Conklin, Lindsey Lane and Savannah McCaskill along with sophomore goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski. This fall marks the third-straight year that McCaskill landed on the list.
POLLING WELL
South Carolina climbed to the No. 3 spot in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday. The Gamecocks, who spent five weeks ranked inside the top three last season, earned the program’s highest preseason ranking ever this fall after opening at No. 4. Carolina has been ranked in the top five in each of the previous 10 installments of the poll dating back to last September.
NEW FACES IN THE LINEUP
Four newcomers earned the start in both of Carolina’s first two matches of the season. Freshmen Sarah Eskew and Jackie Schaefer started on the Gamecock back line this past weekend and helped South Carolina post a shutout in its season opener against UCF (Aug. 18). Redshirt senior transfer Meaghan Carrigan and freshman Ryan Gareis were also inserted into Carolina’s lineup, playing up top in the Gamecock attack. Gareis put three of her four shots on frame over her first two matches.
RAISING THE BAHR
Gamecock striker Elexa Bahr has enjoyed a productive start to her sophomore campaign after netting goals in each of Carolina’s first two matches. The Buford, Ga., native’s two tallies are one more than she had all of last season, and her goal against UCF last Friday (Aug. 18) marked the first career game-winner for the forward. Bahr’s two goals and four shots on goal both lead the Gamecocks this season.
A SPARK OFF THE BENCH
Carolina freshman midfielder Lauren Chang had a hand in a pair of goals over the opening weekend against UCF (Aug. 18) and Florida Gulf Coast (Aug. 20). The Gamecock newcomer, who came off the bench in both contests, tallied her first collegiate goal against the Knights after smashing home a shot from outside the box in the second half. She set up the game-winner against the Eagles, maneuvering around the FGCU defense before drawing a foul near the left side of the box. Chang’s two points are good for the second-best total among Gamecocks in 2017.
TWO GAMECOCKS LAND ON MAC HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
South Carolina soccer standouts Savannah McCaskill and Mikayla Krzeczowski were named to the 2017 Women’s MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List by the United Soccer Coaches earlier this month. McCaskill, a semifinalist for the award last season, enters this fall with the most game-winners from last year of any returning player. Krzeczowski totaled an impressive 11 clean sheets during her freshman campaign, including eight in SEC play. South Carolina is one of four schools with multiple student-athletes on the list for the annual honor that recognizes the top women’s soccer player in NCAA Division I.
UP NEXT
South Carolina returns to action this weekend when it hosts High Point on Sun., Aug. 27. Kickoff between the Gamecocks and Panthers is set for 7 p.m. ET.
