Gamecocks End in a Draw with Vanderbilt
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 7 South Carolina women’s soccer (11-1-1, 5-0-1 SEC) finished in a 0-0 draw with Vanderbilt (10-3-1, 3-2-1 SEC) on Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium. Senior goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski finished with four saves to earn her 42nd career, and fourth straight, clean sheet.
“It was unfortunate we didn’t finish some chances today, but also fortunate they didn’t finish some of their chances,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said. “I think Mikayla [Krzeczowski] and Jyllissa’s saves kept us in it. We did a great job defending today. We needed to find a way to finish in the final third today and sometimes this is just how soccer is. Both teams were good teams and battled it out and we ended in a draw.”
Carolina raced out to a fast start with six shots in the first half with the midfield combination of Lauren Chang and Claire Griffiths testing the Vanderbilt keeper, each putting a shot on goal in opening 45 minutes.
Vanderbilt’s offense came alive in the second half, putting up six shots of their own. Notably, SEC-leading goal scorer Haley Hopkins put a pair of shots on frame in the 79th minute, but Krzeczowski and Jyllissa Harris got in front of the attempts to keep the Commodores off the board.
The Gamecocks had a pair of opportunities in extra time, senior forward Elexa Bahr had a great chance in the 106th minute, but the flicked shot was denied by Vanderbilt.
The scoreless result is the identical final score of the 2018 matchup between the Gamecocks and the 2018 SEC Champions. With the shutout, the Gamecocks have now held Vanderbilt scoreless since 2016 when the Gamecocks defeated the Commodores 2-1 in Nashville.
Krzeczowski’s 42nd shutout continues to move her up the all-time NCAA career latter. The senior now sits in a tie for 15th for the most clean sheets in an NCAA Division I career. The win also keeps the Gamecocks as the only undefeated team in the SEC and in sole possession of first place with four matches remaining in the regular season.
The Gamecocks remain home for their second match of their three-match home stand when Tennessee comes to Stone Stadium on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. The match can be seen on SEC Network +.
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