Unique Opportunity for Gamecock Freshmen at All-Star Game

The annual Clash of the Carolinas all-star soccer game between the top recently graduated high school players from North and South Carolina had a Gamecock flair to it. South Carolina freshmen Eveleen Hahn, Riane Coman, and Sami Meredith had a chance to compete with and against each other in the annual event, which was held on June 29 in Cary, N.C.

“I was honored to get to play in it, and I knew a bunch of the girls in it,” Meredith said. “It was fun to play out there with some new players like Riane and Eveleen, whom I’ll be playing with in the future.”

“It was pretty cool to have two other Gamecocks out there,” Coman said. “I think it speaks well of the South Carolina program.”

“It was definitely a very different experience for me because I did know more girls on the South team, but it was fun getting to play against new teammates,” said Hahn, who lives in Lake Wylie, S.C., but attended nearby Charlotte Catholic High School, resulting in her suiting up for the North Carolina team.

“I just love the coaches and the atmosphere they’ve created here.”
– Sami  Meredith

Hahn scored the game-winner for the Tarheel state in the 1-0 win over her home state. Played every year since 2007, the all-stars from North Carolina have won the last four matches in the series. While the trio had some fun playing up the rivalry between the two states, there wasn’t any trash talking before or after the match.

“South Carolina was the underdog, so there was a lot of pressure on me playing on the other side,” Hahn said. “No trash talking though, at least not between us! My goal was a team effort. It was just a tap-in from a cross. I was lucky. It was an even game that could have gone either way.”

“I was sad that we were down, but I was happy for her,” Meredith confirmed.

“I was disappointed because I wanted to win, but I would rather Eveleen to be the one who scored than anyone else,” Coman said, while also joking that she could move past losing the game as long Hahn promises to score goals for the Gamecocks.

Although they all played for different high schools, the trio was already familiar with each other. Meredith and Coman had previously played on the same club soccer team for two years, and they got to know Hahn on their various recruiting visits.

Now that they’re in summer school at South Carolina and are all wearing the Garnet and Black for the Gamecocks, the three freshmen can’t wait to all be on the same side of the pitch.

“We like to do things together,” Coman said. “We’re just hanging out and living life together now. I just want to grow as a player and see significant change in my game. We’re trying to get bigger, stronger, and quicker and trying to have fun, too. I love that (head coach) Shelley (Smith) and (associate head coach) Jamie (Smith) are husband and wife. It really makes it more of a family atmosphere, and South Carolina is a great program.”

 “I just want to get off to a good start,” Hahn said. “The speed of play is different, and it’s very physical. The girls and the coaches are so welcoming and nice here.”

“We’re doing our workouts now, and we push and encourage each other,” Meredith added. “I’m most excited to be playing with the team and to get into real practices with the coaches and everybody else. I know it’s going to be really physical playing in the SEC. I just love the coaches and the atmosphere they’ve created here.”