Women's Soccer Opens 2021 Season at Home Thursday
COLUMBIA, S.C.— No. 17 South Carolina will open its 2021 women’s soccer season at Stone Stadium at 7 p.m. on Thu., Aug. 19, against The Citadel. The match will stream live on SEC Network+.
For fans coming to Stone Stadium for the game, parking is available in the Athletics Village Garage adjacent to the stadium. All purchases at the stadium will be cashless, so fans should plan ahead for that.
2021 Season Notables
- Head coach Shelley Smith returns 21 of last season’s 26 letterwinners, including the team’s top three goal scorers and four fifth-year seniors who chose to return for their bonus year of eligibility.
- South Carolina was picked by the league’s coaches to finish third in the 2021 SEC regular season. The Gamecocks have not finished a season lower than third in the SEC since 2015.
- Five Gamecocks were named to the SEC Soccer Preseason Watch List – Catherine Barry, Lauren Chang, Samantha Chang, Ryan Gareis, Jyllissa Harris.
- South Carolina played an exhibition at Wake Forest last week, topping the Demon Deacons 2-0. The Gamecocks dominated the opening 12 minutes of the match with goals from Barry and Gareis in that stretch and never looked back.
- South Carolina added six freshmen to the collection of returning letterwinners, including five who saw the pitch in the exhibition at Wake Forest.
Look Back at Last Season
- South Carolina earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight season and the 13th time under Smith. The Gamecocks advanced to the second round.
- The Gamecocks finished the shortened and split 2020-21 season 11-5-0 overall and finished atop the SEC East standings with a 6-2-0 record. They were ranked No. 21 in the final United Soccer Coaches Poll.
- In her college debut season, Catherine Barry led the team in scoring with six goals and 16 points (6G, 4A) to earn spots on the SEC All-Freshman and SEC All-Tournament Teams.
- Forward Corinna Zullo also capitalized on her first college season to tie for second on the team with 10 points, including five goals, including three gamewinners.
- At season’s end, Lauren Change and Jyllissa Harris were both named to an All-SEC and All-Southeast Region Team.
2021 soccer season tickets are now available. A season ticket includes admission to all twenty home men’s and women’s soccer games at Stone Stadium this fall. Season tickets start at $25 for adults and $10 for youth, 17 and under. This year, fans can upgrade their season ticket to include a limited edition Gamecock soccer scarf for an additional $10.
For women’s soccer updates, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team on social media (@GamecockWSoccer).
