Gamecocks Set for Battle of the Carolina’s in NCAA first Round

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The South Carolina women’s soccer opens NCAA Tournament play when the Gamecocks travel to North Carolina to face the No. 2 seed Tar Heels Saturday, November 13 at 2 p.m.
 
Gameday Information – NCAA Tournament
When: November 13 | 2 p.m. ET
Where: Chape Hill, N.C.
Venue: Dorrance Field
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Video: ACC Network Extra; Chris Hooks (pxp)
Series History: Tied 2-2
Last Meeting: South Carolina 0, North Carolina 1 | November 25, 2016 | Columbia, S.C.
 
RV South Carolina Gamecocks 11-6-1
Last Game: L, 2-1 vs. Auburn (Nov. 2)
Coach: Shelley Smith | 21st Season
Goals Leader: Catherine Barry | 7
Assists Leader:  Ryan Gareis and Lauren Chang | 8
Points Leader: Catherine Barry | 16
Shots Leader: Catherine Barry | 35
Saves Leader: Heather Hinz | 41
 
No. 2 (#10) North Carolina Tar Heels 12-2-3
Last Game: W, 4-0 at Miami (FL) (Oct. 28)
Coach: Anson Dorrance| 45th Season
Goals Leader: Emily Colton | 7
Assists Leader: Emily Murphy | 6
Points Leader: Emily Murphy | 16
Shots Leader: Emily Colton | 50
Saves Leader: Claudia Dickey | 38
 
QUICK NOTES: SC vs UNC

• The teams have not met since the 2016 NCAA Tournament in Columbia.
• The all-time series is tied 2-2
• They have met twice in the NCAA Tournament (2016, 2014), with each winning on the road.
• The Gamecocks have won two in-a-row in Chapel Hill (2014, 2007)
• Carolina earned a 1-0 win over the then-No. 1 ranked Tar Heels to open the 2007 season.
• Head coach Shelley Smith is 2-1 in her career against UNC.
   

2021 Season Notables

• A program record seven players were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America All-District team; Catherine Barry, Samantha Chang, Lauren Chang, Sarah Eskew, Ryan Gareis, Jyllissa Harris, and Heather Hinz.
• Jyllissa Harris was named to the All-SEC First Team. She is the 8th player in program history to earn multiple first team honors.
• Claire Griffiths was named to the SEC Community service team.
• Payton Patrick was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Oct. 25.
• Catherine Barry scored 1:02 into the match against Alabama on Oct. 24, the fifth fastest goal in program history.
• Ryan Gareis and Lauren Chang rank 32nd in the nation with seven assists on the season.
• The Gamecocks leads the SEC in fewest fouls per game and rank 25th nationally.
• Against Ole Miss, Lauren Chang became the program’s leader in career matches played with 96. She currently ranked 5th among all active NCAA women’s soccer players with 100.
• Ryan Gareis was named the SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 4.
• Jyllissa Harris was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 27.
• The Gamecocks have used a deep bench this season. At least 20 players earned minutes in the first seven matches of the season. The have used at least 20 players in 11 of the 18 games this season.
• Earlier this season against Charlotte, Luciana Zullo scored her first goal of the season 46 seconds into the match. That’s tied for the second fastest goal in program history.
• 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, and Jyllissa Harris.
• 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 added six freshmen to the collection of returning letterwinners.

 
All-Time Results vs. North Carolina
 

 
Overall: 0-0
Conf: 0-0
Home: 0-1
Away: 2-1
Neutral: 0-0
 
For women’s soccer updates, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockWSoccer, Facebook /GamecockWSoccer, and Instagram @GamecockWSoccer.