South Carolina women’s soccer team defeated Georgia in a physical game, the first SEC game of the year, in Athens 3-1 on Friday.
Going into the game, Georgia had a losing record of 0-4-1. With the most recent loss to No. 13 Clemson 1-0, the Bulldogs were looking for their first win — especially against a conference team.
The Gamecocks are ranked No. 17 in the NSCAA and recently beat UNC-Charlotte 4-1, increasing their record to 6-1 overall.
These two teams met last season around the same time in Columbia, South Carolina. The Bulldogs managed to win 1-0 on the afternoon of Sept. 28.
In the first conference game of the year, South Carolina enters the game ranked second in goal in the SEC.
First 45
Starting for the Gamecocks in goal was sophomore Abbey Crider and for the Bulldogs was sophomore Louise Hogrell.
Both teams started aggressively toward each other in the beginning of the game to see who would take the first shot and the lead.
After a scoreless 20 minutes, junior Sophie Groff decided to change that with a goal in the 21st minute. The assist came from senior Raina Johnson off the rebound. This was Groff’s third goal of the season and gave her 12 for her career at South Carolina.
In the 39th minute, sophomore Mariel Gutierrez retaliated with a goal 30 yards out tying up with the Gamecocks 1-1. This was Gutierrez’s second goal of the season with the Bulldogs.
Feeling the heat, sophomore Anna Conklin took the assist from junior Daija Griffin and gave the Gamecocks the lead 2-1 in the 42nd minute.
Freshman Carrie Lawrence received a yellow card in the last 30 seconds of the period.
Ending the first half, South Carolina took the lead and gave Georgia something to talk about in the locker room.
Second 45
Senior Caroline Kelly relieved Crider in the goal to protect the advantage the Gamecocks had against the Bulldogs. Hogrell continued in the goal for the Bulldogs the remaining time.
The Gamecocks did not lose their fire during half time, however, and quickly added another goal in the 47th minute. Sophomore Savannah McCaskill made her fifth goal for the season. Johnson assisted McCaskill for her second assist of the game. McCaskill leads the Gamecocks in goals and is ranked fifth in the SEC with a total of 10 points including assists.
McCaskill's was the last goal of the game for both teams and gave South Carolina the win 3-1 over Georgia.
A yellow card was issued to McCaskill in the 85th minute along with a red card to Georgia’s junior Caroline Waters. With this red card, Waters was sent off the field and a substitution could not be put in her place.
South Carolina finished the game at 18 shots with nine on goal compared to Georgia’s nine with four on goal.
The Gamecocks are now 6-1 overall and 1-0 in SEC play. Their next opponent is Kennesaw State in Columbia, South Carolina.