After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Arkansas on Senior Night, USC's women's soccer team traveled to LSU on Sunday with a chip on its shoulder and something to prove.
The Gamecocks lost their seventh game in a row Friday night, dropping a 2-1 match to Arkansas. Razorback forward Christina Burger beat a defender and scored from 10 yards out late in the first half to put the Razorbacks up 1.
USC coach Shelley Smith's team fought back though, scoring in the 51st minute of the match. Erin Sullivan played a through ball to Darcel Mollon, who scored her fourth goal of the season on a breakaway. Unfortunately, a defensive breakdown in the 72nd minute allowed Burger to score her second goal of the match, which would be all the Razorbacks would need.
On a night during which four seniors would play their final game at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium, the result was less than satisfying. To add injury to insult, Arkansas and Carolina are battling for the eighth and final spot in the SEC Tournament.
"We need to put things together that we know we are capable of but we haven't shown in the last couple of matches," Smith said. "It's a challenge for all of us to see how we are going to step up and learn from this and go forward. We have to focus on what we can do well right now and remember the things that have made us strong."
Luckily, the Gamecocks rebounded when they arrived in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday. With a 3-0 rout of LSU, the Gamecocks finally snapped their losing skid. First-half goals by Kimmy Gillespie and Kim Boulos within minutes of each other gave Carolina a commanding first-half lead. Mollon then scored in the second half to put the game out of reach. The Gamecocks dominated the whole match, outshooting the Tigers 16-7.
"I think we played with great effort Sunday," Smith said. "If you keep possession of the ball, take advantage of the finishing opportunities and minimize mistakes in the back, that's the equation to winning games."
Smith was proud of how her team responded after such an upsetting loss.
"We are not a team that is going to give up. We have to continue and play hard and prove that we should have more wins than we have this year."
With a win at LSU, the Gamecocks record is 6-11 and 2-8 in the SEC. Carolina will end the season on the road against nationally ranked Florida.
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