The South Carolina women’s soccer team begins postseason action Wednesday when the fifth-seeded Gamecocks take on the fourth-seeded Auburn Tigers in Orange Beach, Alabama. The Gamecocks are looking to repeat a similar result to the team’s 2-0 win over Auburn on Oct. 8.
In that matchup, it was the usual suspects providing the offense for South Carolina. All-SEC honorees Savannah McCaskill and Raina Johnson each added a goal, extending the team’s unbeaten streak to 10 games, before it was snapped in the following match.
The No. 16 Gamecocks are likely safe to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but the team is motivated to bring a trophy back to Columbia.
“We want to give ourselves a chance to win a championship,” Coach Shelley Smith said, following the team’s win over Tennessee to close out the regular season. “We missed that opportunity for the regular season, but we have a team that shows they are capable of winning, and we need to make sure we take that into Orange Beach.”
South Carolina’s three-match winless streak toward the end of the season cost the team a chance at the regular season crown, finishing five points behind top-seeded Florida. The Gators are on the same side of the bracket as the Gamecocks, meaning a potential semifinal matchup is looming, provided both teams can advance.
Wednesday's game will be broadcast live on the SEC Network, with game time set for 8:30 p.m. EST A berth in the conference semifinals is on the line, and the team will look to redeem themselves after missing out on the regular season title.