Luciana Zullo Earns SEC Freshman Of The Week Honors

Oct. 9, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” South Carolina first-year forward Luciana Zullo has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon. The award marks the first weekly conference honor for the Flemington, N.J., native.

Zullo guided the Gamecocks to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Mississippi State last Thursday (Oct. 4) after netting a pair of goals in the final 15 minutes of the match. The attacker headed home a rebound in the box to pull Carolina even at 2-2 in the 82nd minute, and she registered the game-winner in the 95th minute on a shot from 15 yards out. With her performance, Zullo became the third Gamecock to register a multi-goal game in 2017.

The striker’s productive week continued this past Sunday (Oct. 8) in Carolina’s 2-0 victory over Arkansas. Zullo set up the second goal for the Gamecocks in the 42nd minute, creating a rebound opportunity in the box when her shot hit off a Razorback defender. Fellow Carolina freshman Bianca Galassini gathered the loose ball and found the back of the net with the Arkansas goalkeeper off her line.

Zullo’s nine points this season lead all Carolina freshman, and she ranks second on the team in assists (3) and third in goals (3). Her two game-winners are good for the second-best mark among Gamecocks.

No. 3 South Carolina (12-1-0, 6-0-0 SEC), which pushed its winning streak to 10 games with Sunday’s victory, returns to action on Sun., Oct. 15, at home against Vanderbilt. Kickoff from Stone Stadium is slated for 5 p.m. ET, and the match will air on SEC Network.