Women's Soccer Names 2020 Captains
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina women’s soccer program announced its four captains for the 2020 season Thursday. Seniors Anna Patten, Lauren Chang, Sarah Eskew and Luciana Zullo will all serve as first-time captains for the Gamecocks.
“We are really excited about this amazing group of women that will lead us this year,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said. “These seniors are an experienced group who all bring a unique perspective. They are all tremendous role models on and off the field in our program and our staff knows that they will bring a championship attitude to our locker room this season.”
Patten returns to the Gamecocks after scoring four goals as a defender in 2019. The senior defender has the credentials on the field, including winning at least one championship in each of her last three seasons (won two with Florida State in 2018). The Harpenden, England, native has scored seven career goals and has contributed to 39 shutouts in her three seasons in collegiate soccer. Patten was named to the All-SEC Second Team last season and was the only two-time Defensive Player of the Week in the SEC in 2019.
As a midfielder Chang is the returning active leader in career goals scored (15), assists (8) and points (38) for the Gamecocks. She’s the lone two-time All-SEC player that returns to Carolina in 2020 and is also a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region honoree. She scored the only Gamecock brace in 2019, netting two goals in a 3-0 win over Georgia.
Eskew returns as the anchor of the Carolina defense in 2020, the Centerville, Ga., native has started in 45 straight matches and has made a total of 54 starts in three seasons at Carolina. Eskew has been a major factor on the Gamecocks’ back line, helping the Gamecock post the most shutouts in a single season in program history in 2017 (16) and then breaking that total again in 2019 (17). She also aided the best goals against average in program history in 2019 at 0.320.
Zullo brings back the most numbers among the Gamecock forwards in 2020. The Flemington, N.J., native has scored a returning-high eight game-winning goals in her career. She’s second among returning career leaders in goals (13), points (34) and is tied with Chang in assists (8).
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.
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