Jones Honored as SEC Defensive Player of the Week
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s soccer junior Sutton Jones was honored as the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, the first of the junior’s career, the conference office announced on Monday. The honor is the fourth straight week the Gamecocks have earned a weekly honor from the SEC.
“Sutton had another great game playing almost every minute in the back for us,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said. “She was a huge difference on the offensive end as well with her two goals. It is a well deserved honor this week being recognized by truly making an impact on both ends of the field.”
Jones netted a pair of goals for the No. 11 Gamecocks against rival Florida, helping Carolina earn its fifth-straight SEC win. The Fort Mill, S.C., native, scored the first and last goal of the Gamecocks 4-2 dominant win over Florida at Stone Stadium. The brace is the first multi-goal performance by a Carolina defender since Taylor Leach in 2014. Jones doubled her carer goal total with her two goals against Florida, helping the Gamecocks defeat the Gators for the fifth-straight time at Stone Stadium dating back to 2012. Both of Jones’ goals came off of corner kick set pieces, one served by Jyllissa Harris and the other coming from Samantha Chang.
Jones is the first Gamecock to be honored as the SEC Defensive Player of the Week this season. The last Gamecock to win the award was Anna Patten in 2019 when she scored the gamewinner against Auburn on the road. The Gamecocks have now won every SEC weekly honor given out by the conference office (Samantha Chang/Ryan Gareis – Offensive, Catherine Barry – Freshman).
South Carolina (5-1-0, 5-1-0 SEC) will play Mississippi State on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., for its annual Senior Day. The match can be streamed on SEC Network + or on the ESPN app. The two squads did not meet in 2019 but the Bulldogs did take down the Gamecocks 2-1 in overtime in 2018 in Starkville.
For more information on the Gamecocks, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com. Subscribe to South Carolina on Stanza to get schedule updates directly in your calendars. Keep up with Carolina women’s soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@GamecockWSoccer) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the 2020 season.
The South Carolina Athletics Department announced ticketing information for the approximately 675 seats available for the four 2020 fall home matches. Only fans who had purchased season tickets for the upcoming season will have the ability to purchase single-game tickets. Season tickets, including the tickets with scarf option, for the 2020 season will not be honored and will be refunded.
A fixed amount of student tickets will be available for each match. Students will receive additional information on instructions for receiving tickets to home matches from the Department of Student Life. If you have any questions about ticketing for soccer this fall, please reach out to the Gamecock Ticket Office at 803-777-4274.
