Sept. 3, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina women’s soccer (3-1) earned its second straight win with a 4-1 victory over Houston (0-3) on Friday night at Stone Stadium. Sara Jane Harris, Stacy Maxwell and Ashley Williams all scored their first goals of the season with freshman goalkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson picking up her second win of the year.
“I think tonight we had a lot of great chances and I was happy to see us put a few goals in the back of the net,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “We went to Houston last year and we couldn’t score. We did a good job to work together and defend and keep them from attacking on our goal as well.”
Carolina went ahead 1-0 at 33:49 with Harris’ first career goal as a Gamecock. Off an Ashley Kirk corner kick, Harris was able to get her head on the ball and hit it past Houston keeper Katie Cook for a one-goal lead. The assist for Kirk is her third of the year to lead the Gamecocks.
With a one-goal lead after halftime, USC gained a 2-0 lead early into the second period of play. At 49:24, the Gamecocks caught a break as a cross into the box went off a Houston defender into the net for an own goal. The goal marked the second straight game that USC has scored on an own goal.
Houston would creep to within one as Nikki Hawkins launched a shot from 30 yards out that went just over the head of Thorstenson for a goal. However, USC would come back in the final six minutes of play with two more goals as the offense continued to attack and put pressure on the Houston net. Freshman Courtney Cobbs played a nice through ball to Ashley Williams, who broke loose and knocked a five-yard shot past Cook for a goal at 84:27. Freshman Stacy Maxwell finished off the scoring at 88:09 as she knocked in a rebound shot to give USC a three-goal lead. Ashley Gosnell was credited with an assist.
“We are relying on the freshmen for a lot of minutes,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “They are stepping up every game and are playing at the level we need them to play. They are going to be tested but early on they have showed they can play and contribute for us.”
South Carolina finished the evening with a 21-3 advantage in shots with 10 corner kicks as well. Jessi Swaim had five shots and Sarah Lentz added four to lead the Gamecocks.
Carolina returns to action on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. as the Gamecocks host Iowa State at Stone Stadium. Live Audio broadcast will be available at www.uscsports.com.
