Goals by Angotti-Smith, Johnson lead women’s soccer to 3-0 win
The first 45 minutes of South Carolina's match against ECU Sunday afternoon were a story of missed opportunities and offensive inefficiency.
But after the Gamecocks scored just once despite taking 12 shots, halftime adjustments eventually lifted them to a 3-0 win in their final nonconference match.
"We went in and didn't follow the game plan we should," said coach Shelley Smith. "The game got away from us in the second part of the first half. In the second half, we played soccer. It looked nice, and it was creative. We moved the ball. For the most part, we were organized defensively. We had very few turnovers compared to the first half.
"That's the way we need to play. I think coming out of the first half and with what we talked about at halftime, they did a great job. That obviously ended up in a terrific result for us."
As they have all season, the Gamecocks (3-2-1) relied on freshmen to jump-start the offense. Forward Courtney Angotti-Smith gave USC the lead in the 24th minute, scoring her first goal of the year from the right side of the penalty box. She had been substituted into the game just over a minute before.
South Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute with a goal from freshman midfielder Raina Johnson, who also came off the bench to score for the first time this season. Angotti-Smith would round out the scoring with a header in the 70th minute.
"They both came up huge for us," Smith said of the two freshmen. "Both of them came in and scored within a few minutes of coming onto the field. They did their jobs perfectly, coming into the game and making an impact and giving us a lift. A credit to both of them [for doing] a great job today for us."
Angotti-Smith, who was named SEC Freshman of the Week for her performance, has three assists for the year in addition to her two goals on Sunday, making her one of USC's most consistent threats on offense. Smith said she has made a strong case to earn a spot in the starting lineup, but upcoming practices will also play a part in the decision.
"Courtney has continued scoring goals for us and being one of our most dangerous players," Smith said. "There is a possibility [that she will start]. That happens in training leading up to a game, and on days like [Sunday] ... She has earned time, and if it's starting or coming off the bench, both of them are very valuable to us."
South Carolina will begin SEC play against Mississippi State on Friday. With Sunday's victory, and particularly the strong second half, Smith said the team has reason to be confident as it begins its conference schedule.
"When you score goals, you have a shutout, you play well and make adjustments at the half and it comes out, you do the job, have substitutes come in and play a huge role — everything came together in that second half," Smith said. "So it definitely gives you confidence going into SEC play."
