Gamecocks to take on Jacksonville, College of Charleston
#8 Women’s Soccer at Jacksonville/vs. College of Charleston
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 8 South Carolina women’s soccer takes on Jacksonville University (0-1-0) and College of Charleston (1-1-0) in the second week of the 2019 season. Carolina’s first road test will be against the Dolphins of Jacksonville on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, before returning home for a match with the Cougars on Sept. 1, at 7 p.m.
CAROLINA COMPLETES UNDEFEATED OPENING WEEKEND
In front of 4,017 electric fans, the ninth-largest crowd in program history, then No. 15 South Carolina women’s soccer (2-0-0) took out William & Mary (1-1-0) 3-0 to wrap up an undefeated first week of the 2019 season on Sunday night at Stone Stadium.
Carolina scored all three of its goals in just three minutes and 58 seconds to secure the victory over the Tribe. Senior Elexa Bahr’s goal in the 53rd minute gave her two game-winning goals in the young 2019 season while Ryan Gareis and Luciana Zullo each added an insurance goal in the second half.
“We were happy with the adjustments our team made at halftime,” head coach Shelley Smith said. “Credit to William & Mary for putting us under pressure, but the adjustments at halftime were great, and they helped us execute and finish our opportunities.”
“What you are seeing [from Bahr] is what she is capable of,” Smith said. “We hope she can continue to build on what she has already accomplished so far. She’s brought confidence, and she’s been able to play more minutes this year. We’re proud of what she’s been doing so far.”
TRENDING GAMECOCKS
After an undefeated start to the season, the Gamecocks moved to No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, the organization announced Tuesday. The seven spots the Gamecocks moved is the largest move in one week in at least 12 years when the program began tracking weekly national polls. With the No. 8 ranking, the Gamecocks are now the highest ranked SEC team.
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE
In their first match under new head coach Laura Busby, the Dolphins opened with a 3-1 loss to Charleston Southern at home. Freshman Olivia Abdallah scored the lone goal for the host Dolphins, but a 2-0 deficit was too much for them to overcome. Jacksonville played two goalkeepers in its opening contest, with Michelle Jerantowski and Kristian Shores each playing 45 minutes in the season opener. The Dolphins are coming off a 1-14-1 (1-7-0 ASUN) record in 2018. This will be the first meeting between South Carolina and Jacksonville since 2012, when Carolina prevailed 3-0.
SCOUTING COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
The Cougars split their opening weekend of the 2019 season, defeating Stephen F. Austin 2-1 before falling to Furman by the same score. College of Charleston is an opponent the Gamecocks are quite familiar with; Carolina holds a 5-1-2 all-time record against the Cougars and defeated them 2-0 in 2018. College of Charleston returns seven goal scorers from its 2018 squad, including preseason All-CAA selection Rachel Kim.
PATTEN TO REPRESENT ENGLAND
Newcomer Anna Patten was named to the 25-player squad for England’s Senior National Team international friendlies with Belgium and Norway from Aug. 25 until Sept. 3. Patten will miss at least three matches with the Gamecocks during that time. A mainstay on England’s Youth National teams, Patten has been a part of U15, U17, U18, U19 and U20 levels, playing over 40 matches for England. The junior from Harpenden, England, joined the Gamecocks after two seasons with Florida State, where she was a part of the 2018 NCAA National Championship.
MILAZZO EARNS SEC DEFENSIVE POW
South Carolina women’s soccer senior Tatumn Milazzo earned her first career SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor, the league office announced Monday. In the opening week of the season, Milazzo scored one goal and was a vital part of the Gamecocks’ shutout over William & Mary.
“This recognition is well deserved by Tatumn, who is one of the key leaders on defense and showed her versatility moving from outside back to center back during the weekend,” head coach Shelley Smith said. “She is a senior captain who showed the kind of impact she can make on a game to start the season. I am very happy to see her honored for her play and to represent the great defensive efforts of our entire team to help us start off with two wins and a shutout included.”
THE GRAVEYARD FACTOR
With yet another pair of home victories at Stone Stadium, also known as the Graveyard, the Gamecocks are now 45-5-1 in their past 51 home matches. Carolina has won 21-straight non-conference matches at home, a streak that dates back to 2014. Since the 2015 season, the Gamecocks have only lost one home match during the regular season.
UP NEXT
Next week Carolina will head to West Lafayette, Ind., for a five-day trip to take on Purdue and DePaul on Sept. 6 and Sept. 8, respectively. The Gamecocks will look to continue success against Purdue, who they defeated 2-1 in 2018 at Stone Stadium.
QUICK NOTES
– South Carolina scored three goals in the second half against William & Mary for the first time since Sept. 2016 vs. Kentucky
– Mikayla Krzeczowski’s 35 career shutouts ranks her No. 1 in active career shutouts in the NCAA (Division I)
– Krzeczowski also enters with the most shutouts in South Carolina history and SEC history
– The Gamecocks played in front of the ninth-largest crowd in program history in the 3-0 victory over William & Mary
– Carolina scored its three goal vs. William & Mary in just three minutes and 58 seconds of game action and about six mintues of actual time
– On Aug. 1, captain Grace Fisk was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, an award given to the top women’s soccer player in NCAA Division I
