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Gamecocks Celebrate Senior Day With Decisive 4-0 Victory
Women's Soccer  . 

Gamecocks Celebrate Senior Day With Decisive 4-0 Victory

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer team honored their seniors in their final regular season home match by earning a decisive 4-0 victory over Alabama Sunday afternoon (Oct. 24). The Gamecocks now sit at 10-5-1 on the season and 5-3-1 in SEC play. 
 
Prior to the match, South Carolina honored the class of 2021, Claire Griffiths and Sutton Jones. 
 
“It’s amazing to see how much they’ve grown, that’s what makes it an amazing job for me,” head coach Shelley Smith said of her seniors. “We had other seniors come back for a fifth season, so it was a special day. I’m proud to see all these women compete at the level they do and to have so much success in the classroom.”
 
When it was time for the match, the Gamecocks put the emotions of Senior Day behind them quickly, as Catherine Barry scored 1:02 into the match, the fifth fastest goal in program history. Ryan Gareis sent a wide cross into the box, where it hit off the far post, and landed at Barry’s feet. She quickly flicked the ball with her left foot, as it was able to cross the goal line before the Alabama goal keeper could reach it. The goal was Barry’s fifth of the season and Gareis’ eighth assist. It was also her 17th career assist, moving her into a tie for sixth in program history. 
 
The Gamecocks were far from done in the first half. In the 25th minute, Lauren Chang lined up for a free kick near midfield. Her ball into the box bounced around until it found the right foot of Samantha Chang, who hit the ball home for her second goal of the season. The assist was Lauren Chang’s eighth of the season and 22nd of her career, fifth most all-time.
 
Less than six minutes later, South Carolina would score on a reverse play of their first goal of the match. This time, it was Barry who would go out wide left and find Gareis alone in the box. Gareis has no issues putting the ball home off her left foot to the far post. The goal was her second of the season and also Barry’s second assist of the season. It marked Gareis’ sixth career multi-point match and Barry’s fourth. 
 
The Gamecocks put an exclamation point on Senior Day when a pair of freshmen connected in the 78th minute. Taylor Jacobson put a beautiful ball into the box from the right side where it slipped past an Alabama defender and right into the chest of Payton Patrick, who put it home for her second goal of the season. The assist was Jacobson’s first collegiate point as a Gamecock.
 
In goal, Heather Hinz earned her fourth shutout of the season. The South Carolina defense limited Alabama to one shot on goal, coming in the 74th minute.
 
For the afternoon, South Carolina out-shot the Crimson Tide 13-8, and held an 8-1 margin in shots on goal.
 
The Gamecocks wrap up the regular season when they travel to Florida for a match Thursday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m.
 


For the latest on women’s soccer, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockWSoccer, Facebook /GamecockWSoccer, and Instagram @GamecockWSoccer.

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