Gamecocks Finish Regular Season Undefeated in SEC Play with Win
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 8 South Carolina women’s soccer (13-1-2, 7-0-3 SEC) finished the SEC season undefeated for the third time in four seasons with a 2-0 win over Auburn on the road on Thursday night. Elexa Bahr and Anna Patten netted goals in the win, with Bahr’s being her fifth gamewinner and sixth overall goal in 2019.
The win cements the South Carolina as the No. 3 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament that is set to take place in Orange Beach, Ala., starting on Nov. 3. The Gamecocks will play the No. 6 seed, Georgia. Carolina defeated the Bulldogs earlier this season, 1-0.
“It’s bittersweet, to go undefeated and then to not come out with a championship,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said. “However, we are pleased with the overall performance from our team this year. Finishing strong in the regular season and taking this win into Orange Beach is important to us. We just have a little bit more hunger to go and win that title next week.”
Bahr’s goal came 24 minutes into the contest. Her strike came off of the senior’s left foot after a beautiful combination of passes from juniors Luciana Zullo and Lauren Chang. Zullo dribbled the ball nearly across the width of the field before finding Chang to fed Bahr on the right side of the goal. The goal gives Bahr 18 for her career and keeps South Carolina undefeated in her career when she scores a goal.
“Our offense has been doing great to threaten repeatedly in matches, and that was no different tonight,” Smith said. “We’ve been getting some great looks at goal, we could have scored a couple more, but I’m pleased with how we’ve been able to put ourselves in those opportunities and positions. I feel good about where we are on that side of the ball, and if we continue to play the way we have, that’s what you want going into the postseason.”
Chang wasn’t done setting up goals, the junior midfielder sent a free kick from just beyond midfield to a streaking Anna Patten who headed home her third goal of the season. The 30th minute goal doubled the Carolina lead, giving Carolina a 2-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, it was the defense that flexed its muscles against the Tigers. Carolina held Auburn without a shot in the second half, giving them a 13-4 shot advantage by the end of the match.
With her pair of assists, Chang is the third Gamecock in 2019 to notch multiple assists, joining Samantha Chang and Bahr. The third goal for Patten marks the first time since 2017 (Grace Fisk) a defender has scored at least three goals in a season.
The 44th career shutout for Mikayla Krzeczowski moves her up the NCAA women’s soccer record books. She now sits in a tie for 11th in NCAA women’s soccer history. Her pair of assists against the Tigers gives her 200 saves for her career, making her just the fourth Gamecock goalkeeper to register at least 200 saves in a career, and is just one away from tying Mollie Patton for the third most in program history.
“Our defense has been outstanding all season long,” Smith said. “Everyone always says, ‘defense wins championships.’ We put ourselves in positions to win games over and over again. Huge credit to our defensive effort tonight, and it’s not just the back line and Mikayla [Krzeczowski], it is an entire defensive effort behind the ball.”
Carolina will take on Georgia on Nov. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks have on SEC Tournament title in program history (2009).
For a full breakdown of the SEC Tournament, visit here. Or check out the bracket here. Note, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are automatically given to the East and West division champions. The standings for the 2019 SEC regular season can be viewed here.
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