Sept. 5, 2014

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 9 South Carolina (4-1-0) dropped a 1-0 decision to rival Clemson (5-0-0) on Friday night at Stone Stadium in front of a program-record 5,855 fans.

Within the first four minutes, Clemson was awarded a corner kick and South Carolina earned two free kick opportunities, but none of the chances saw a shot go towards net.

In the 21st minute, South Carolina found itself down a goal, a position it had not been in yet this season. Clemson’s Shannon Horgan took a corner kick and bent a shot in to the far upper corner past Gamecock keeper Sabrina D’Angelo. The freshman’s first career goal gave the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.

With Clemson holding possession, the Gamecocks could not find a rhythm and notched just three shots in the first period.

In the second half, South Carolina found its offensive attack again, but despite the increased possession and energy on the offensive end, the Gamecocks were unable to score.

Six of South Carolina’s nine shots in the match came in the second half, and the Gamecocks made many more runs towards the goal that stopped just short of a shot.

South Carolina had three corner kicks in the final nine minutes as they looked to level the match. The equalizing goal would not come though, with a pair of opportunities stopped by an offside call and a foul on the Gamecocks in the box.

A physical match from the beginning, each team was whistled for 16 fouls and combining for seven yellow cards in the contest.

Game Changer
The Gamecocks were forced to play down a goal for the first time in 2014 when a corner kick from Clemson’s Shannon Horgan bent in towards the far corner past Gamecock keeper Sabrina D’Angelo’s hands.

Key Stat
The Gamecocks faced 11 shots tonight, as many as they have faced in four matches combined entering the contest.

Notables

• In the midst of the program’s 20th season, South Carolina recognized a group of former student-athletes at half time. The group included Jennie Ondo Lloyd, newly inducted into the South Carolina Association of Lettermen Hall of Fame, Debbie Smith, the program’s first All-SEC honoree, and multiple members of the 2009 SEC tournament championship and the 2011 SEC regular season championship teams.
• Freshman Savannah McCaskill put two of her three shots on goal in the match, and junior Stevi Parker put both of her shots on frame.
• Tonight’s result ends the Gamecocks 14-game home winning streak. It was the longest in school history.
• Senior keeper Sabrina D’Angelo recorded a season-high four saves in the contest.

Tweet of the Game

.@GamecockWSoccer on @SECNetwork+… The next best thing to being there! #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/sF1A5yeB2z

— Brian Binette (@BrianBinette) September 5, 2014

Quotable
South Carolina Head Coach Shelley Smith
Opening Statement
Unfortunately, that was not a great goal, but we gave them one. It’s unlike us, and we paid for it. We fell into a kicking game, which is not the way we play. It was a physical battle. We didn’t play out of it very well. In the second half, we started to play, and we had more chances. We kept the ball in our own half. We gave ourselves opportunities but it was a little too late. Not enough time to get the tying goal we needed. I’m disappointed in that regard but you can’t fault our team’s effort.

On message to team at the half…
We talked about pressing them a little differently and trying to make sure the center backs didn’t play over the top of us so easily. I thought we were playing very direct in the first half. The minute we started we turned the ball over and never got back to the flow of the game. In the second half we came out and found seams and played and found a way to pass around them. In the second half they did what we talked about.

Savannah McCaskill, Freshman Forward
On second half play…
In the first half we let the crowd get in our heads. We just didn’t play soccer. We came out in the second half, and we decided to do what we know. We played soccer and towards the end of the half, we wanted it. We wanted it more, and we were just trying to get the last goal. We wanted to tie it, but that’s how it goes sometimes. In the last 15 minutes we pushed and we did all that we could do.

Up Next
South Carolina rounds out its five-game homestand at Stone Stadium against High Point on Sun., Sept. 7, at 1 p.m.