USC looks for improvement in final nonconference game
After having more than a week to recover from its double overtime loss to Clemson last Saturday, the women's soccer team will look to bounce back in its final nonconference game against East Carolina Sunday afternoon.
Coach Shelley Smith said the Gamecocks have responded to the disappointing loss with extra commitment to getting better.
"They know that we need to work hard to improve on some things that we've been doing since the beginning of the season," Smith said. "They've responded well. They're training hard. They have a lot of heart, and they want to win. Things aren't always going to go your way, but how you respond is what's going to be the difference."
USC defeated ECU by a score of 4-0 last season, but Smith said that game was closer than the score indicated. Four different players scored for the Gamecocks, including juniors Gabrielle Gilbert and Danielle Au.
"[The Pirates are] definitely a good team," Smith said. "They did well, we just did well to finish our chances. I think the fact that we had those chances against Clemson and some other teams that we didn't finish — that's the challenge. We're focusing on our game, fixing a few things and making sure we're more dangerous going into an opponent like ECU."
South Carolina had opportunities against Clemson, taking 10 shots on the night, but the offense was hurt by four offside calls and struggled to reach the ball in time after it was passed forward. Freshman forward Coryn Bajema led the team with three shots, though none were on goal.
Smith said both exhaustion and injuries played a part in the offense's inability to get on the scoreboard.
"The majority of our starters have had some kind of ache or pain to deal with, so it's limited what they've been able to do," Smith said. "But a lot of things are not season-ending, they're just things you have to get through and play through and improve as you go."
Smith mentioned senior defender Dani Henry, sophomore defender Ali Whitney and sophomore defender Christa Neary as players who have had to overcome minor injuries throughout the season.
"Injuries are always a concern, but I think some of them were still working on coming back," Smith said. "Some are nagging injuries that will continue. But our trainers and our doctors are very good, and they're putting them through progressions to make sure they come back on the field as healthy as they can. It's not something we dwell on."
With the experience they took away from their last match, the Gamecocks will look to duplicate last year's success against ECU.
"I've already seen them look at [the Clemson loss] with a positive view and take what they need to learn. They're doing extra work to get there," Smith said. "Being home and having a chance to work on things this week, getting ready for one game, I think we'll be better rested and hopefully finish with our best performance going into SEC play."