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Volleyball falls to Georgia 3-0

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:55 EST

Junior Megan Laughlin and senior Ivana Kujundzic led USC with 10 kills each, but the Gamecocks lost to Georgia, falling in three sets, 25-27, 26-28, 26-28, at the Volleyball Competition Facility on Sunday.

The Gamecocks fall to 13-12 overall, 5-11 in the SEC while Georgia improves to 15-11 and 6-9.

- From staff reports

Soccer: Women win SEC title

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:06 EST

Losing to LSU in the regular season kept South Carolina’s women’s soccer team from the SEC regular-season championship.

The Gamecocks got their revenge Sunday.

USC’s Blakely Mattern scored with two minutes remaining in the game to force overtime, and goalie Mollie Patton made a save in the fourth round of sudden-death penalty kicks as the Gamecocks beat LSU on penalties, 8-7, to win the program’s first SEC tournament championship.

“I’m speechless,” Mattern said. “My team has fought so hard since we’ve been here and all season to get to this point. To be down a goal and to come back with two minutes left shows heart. That’s what we’ve shown all week. I’m so proud of our team and how hard we worked to never give up. I knew it was in us, and I knew we could win.”

Patton dived to her left to stop the shot by Chelsea Potts in the fourth sudden-death round. The teams were tied 4-4 after five regulation rounds.

USC poised to make soccer history

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:55 EST

ORANGE BEACH, Fla. - South Carolina's women's soccer team will play for its first SEC championship today against LSU at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

USC is the fourth seed in the tournament, while LSU is the second seed. LSU won the regular-season meeting between the teams, 1-0, two weeks ago.

South Carolina advanced to the championship game with a 1-0 victory against Florida on Friday night in the semifinals. Kim Miller scored on a penalty kick in the 11th minute while Mollie Patton recorded her 13th shutout of the season.

Two nights earlier in the quarterfinals, USC scored twice in the final 10 minutes to beat Georgia, 3-2.

Both of USC's victories avenged losses in the regular season. Friday's victory was USC's second ever against Florida. Wednesday's quarterfinal victory against Georgia was the first against the Bulldogs since 2006.

USC advances to SEC soccer finals

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:17 EST

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Kim Miller converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute, and South Carolina shut out top-seeded Florida 1-0 to advance to the program's first SEC tournament championship game.

The win was the second ever against the Gators.

A first-time champion will be crowned Sunday when second-seeded LSU faces the Gamecocks in the nationally televised game at 3:30 p.m. Neither program has played for the title, and South Carolina will look to knock off the third and final team during the tournament that earned a victory against USC in the regular season.

Miller hit her penalty kick at 10:36 after Lindsay Small was taken down in the box. The penalty kick was her second in as many games; senior All-SEC performer had one blocked in the first half against Georgia in the quarterfinals.

"Lindsay Small did a good job to get in the box," Miller said. "I missed a PK yesterday when (Georgia's) Michelle Betos made a great save. Today I had confidence in myself and so did my teammates. I knew I'd get it in. I knew how much this one means to the team. I was focused and hit it where I wanted it to go."

Wait 'til next season

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:38 EST

Sam Arthur's junior season will probably end earlier than he wanted.

With a 0-4-1 slide in the past five matches, the USC men's soccer team will not make the Conference USA four-team tournament, which means USC must win Saturday's match at Memphis to be a longshot to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

Arthur cited key injuries, illnesses and tough luck as factors that have worked against USC (7-7-3).

"In any of the conference games, it's going to be a battle. Everybody in the conference can play. A lot has to do with the way the ball bounces," Arthur said. "It seems like we had a tough spell where we couldn't get the breaks we needed. That turned out to be the difference in our close games."

Arthur's frustration in part has to do with the lack of scoring in those past five matches, when the Gamecocks have netted one goal. His last goal came in a 3-2 double overtime victory against SMU.

USC's Smith named SEC coach of the year

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:35 EST

USC women's soccer coach Shelley Smith was named the SEC coach of the year.

Smith guided the Gamecocks to school records for victories (15) and conference victories (seven).

"This is also a credit to our entire team for working so hard to prepare for the season and putting so much into their play all year," she said.

Also, senior Blakely Mattern was named the league's scholar-athlete of the year and was a first-team all-conference selection. Joining Mattern on the first team was sophomore Kayla Grimsley.

Seniors Kim Miller and Samantha Diaz-Matosas were second-team selections.

USC's soccer title hopes vanish

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:41 EDT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 13 South Carolina women's soccer team looked as if donned Halloween costumes a day early, because for 90 minutes Friday the Gamecocks didn't look like the SEC juggernaut that had climbed the rankings the past two months.

With the SEC East title on the line against 10th-ranked Florida, USC was trounced 3-0.

The Gators' McKenzie Barney scored two goals, giving her four in her past three games, and the Gators earned their fourth consecutive conference trophy in front of 3,104 fans at Pressly Stadium. It was the most goals scored on USC this season.

As the clock ticked to zero, Florida mobbed the field, passing around and posing with a large SEC championship sign. Before leaving the field, the six Gator seniors gathered and held up four fingers to symbolize their tenure at the school.

"The seniors are the girls that I came in with, and I wanted to win it for them," junior keeper Katie Fraine said.

USC soccer loses on road

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:47 EDT

At Birmingham, Ala., South Carolina lost 3-0 to UAB on Wednesday in a Conference USA matchup.

Jimmy Maurer had four saves for USC (7-6-3 overall, 2-2-2 C-USA).

Gamecocks ready for soccer title showdown

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:46 EDT

Mollie Patton understood the South Carolina women's soccer team had something to prove when it was picked to finish fourth in the SEC East preseason poll.

As the Gamecocks prepare to take on Florida Friday night to determine the division and overall league champion, the proof is in the standings.

"We surprised everyone else more than ourselves," said Patton, the junior goalkeeper who has posted 12 shutouts. "We were underestimated coming into the season."

If the Gamecocks (15-2-1 overall, 7-2-1 SEC), who are ranked No. 13 nationally, beat No. 10 Florida (13-4-2, 7-1-2), they will win the East, and combined with an LSU loss or tie, would also claim the overall SEC title.

Coaching a program that finished sixth in the East in 2005, then fifth in 2006, fourth in 2007 and third in 2008, with NCAA Tournament appearances in each of the last two seasons, Shelley Smith is looking to leapfrog one rung of the ladder.

Volleyball: Arkansas tops USC

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:08 EDT

Despite hitting .331 as a team, South Carolina could not overcome Arkansas (11-12, 5-7 SEC) in a four-set loss, 16-25, 25-19, 24-26, 20-25.

Senior libero Sarah Cline led the Gamecocks (12-9, 4-8) with 15 digs.

- From Staff Reports

Tennis: Zubori bows out of ITA Carolina Regional

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:08 EDT

At Winston-Salem, N.C., senior South Carolina women's tennis player Ana Marija Zubori bowed out of the ITA Carolina Regional Championships.

Zubori won her quarterfinal match against Martina Pavelec from Wake Forest 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 before losing to No. 13-ranked Reka Zsilinkska of Duke 6-3, 6-4.

Zubori will now hope to receive an at-large bid to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships. The tournament takes place Nov. 5-8 in New Haven, Conn. Bids are announced Friday.

SINGLES

Ana Marija Zubori, USC, d. Martina Pavelec, Wake Forest, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3

Golf: USC 8th after one round at Isleworth

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:08 EDT

At Windermere, Fla., USC finds itself in the middle of the pack amidst an elite field at Isleworth Golf & Country Club after an opening round of 14-over 302 to sit in eighth place at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational.

Sophomore Wesley Bryan led the way for the Gamecocks with a 1-under 71.

Clemson stands at 11th.

USC RESULTS

T9. Wesley Bryan 71 (-1)

Soccer: LSU shuts down women

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:08 EDT

At Baton Rouge, La., a miscue in the first minute allowed No. 14 LSU to score, and No. 10 South Carolina could not grab the equalizer in the second half with 10 players, on the way to a 1-0 loss Sunday.

The game marks the first time this season USC (15-2-1, 7-2-1 SEC) was shutout. The Gamecocks drop to a tie for second in the SEC with LSU (11-4-3, 7-2-1) with 22 points behind Florida's 23 points. South Carolina played the final 33 minutes of the match down a player after defender Ellen Fahey was whistled for a red card for tripping.

USC travels to Gainesville, Fla., for the regular season finale Friday night. The game between No. 10 South Carolina and No. 12 Florida will be for the SEC Eastern division title. ...

At Clemson, in its final home game of the season, the Clemson women's soccer team (3-14, 0-9 ACC) fell 5-0 to No. 8 Boston College (13-2-1, 5-2-1).

- From Staff Reports

Georgia downs USC in equestrian

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:36 EDT

Third-ranked Georgia handed the second-ranked USC equestrian team its first loss of the season, 12-8.

The Gamecocks' hunter seat team lost 7-3. In equitation on the flat, the Gamecocks (1-2) posted victories from senior Megan Massaro and freshman Kimberly McCormack, but the Bulldogs (4-1) won the event 3-2. Georgia's Carly Anthony posted a score of 84 and was named MVP of the event.

"We got beat by a solid team today, " USC coach Boo Major said. "I think Georgia came in a little more prepared and a little more polished than we did, and they did an excellent job. On our end, though, we definitely made some mistakes that could have been avoided, and I'd like to have a few of our rides back but, overall, give Georgia a lot of credit because they rode extremely well today."

In equitation over fences, USC's only victory came from senior Eleanor Kunsman, who was named MVP of the event for her 86-65 win over Georgia's Grace Rogers.

The Gamecocks return to action Nov. 6, when they host Tennessee-Martin at 2 p.m., followed by a Nov. 7 visit from Fresno State at 10 a.m.

USC women's soccer blanks Arkansas

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:29 EDT

Kortney Rhoades and Kayla Grimsley scored in the second half for USC in a 2-0 victory against Arkansas on Thursday.

Rhoades scored in the 54th minute to break a scoreless tie, and Grimsley scored the insurance goal in the 62nd minute.

The victory improved USC to 15-1-1 overall and 7-1-1 in the SEC.

USC women's golf in third at tourney

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:08 EDT

At Knoxville, Tenn., South Carolina improved its team score 12 shots and moved into third at the Mercedes-Benz Women's Championship on Saturday. Corrine Carr is tied for ninth individually with a 1-over 73 that leaves her at 2-over through two rounds.

Mercedes Benz Collegiate Championship

At Fox Den Country Club

Knoxville, Tenn.

Par 72; 6,317 yards

No. 5 USC women drops first match

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:12 EDT

ATHENS, Ga. - A second-half Georgia penalty kick tied the score before the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs were scored another to hand No. 5 South Carolina its first loss of the season, 2-1, at the Georgia Soccer Stadium on a chilly Friday night.

Sophomore Kayla Grimsley notched her team-leading eighth goal of the season in the eighth minute, but the Gamecocks (13-1-1, 5-1-1 SEC) fell.

South Carolina remains in the SEC East lead with 16 points and holds a 2-1 record in game against ranked opponents this season.

Georgia's Caroline Simpson was awarded a penalty kick in the 52nd minute and scored the winning goal in the 67th. The goal at 66:51 for the Bulldogs marked the first time this season that the Gamecocks have trailed in a game.

"It's a learning experience for us," South Carolina coach Shelley Smith said. "The good thing is we've played so well that we haven't been put in this position all year. The unfortunate thing is we were going to face (a loss) at some point.

USC women's soccer team ranked fifth

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:08 EDT

The USC women's soccer team earned the No. 5 ranking from National Soccer Coaches Association, Soccer America and Soccer Times in polls released Tuesday.

Also, senior defender Blakely Mattern was named to the Soccer America National Team of the Week after leading the Gamecocks to two shutout victories and scoring two goals Sunday against Alabama.

USC (13-0-1, 4-01 SEC) travels to No. 23 Georgia (11-2-1, 4-2) for a 7 p.m. Friday contest.

TRACK AND FIELD

Assistant coach is leaving Gamecocks

Women’s soccer: Mattern leads USC to another shutout

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:00 EDT

Senior Blakely Mattern scored two goals 100 seconds apart to lead the unbeaten and No. 7-ranked USC women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory against Alabama (5-6-1, 1-3-1 SEC) Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium.

The shutout was the NCAA-leading 11th for the Gamecocks (13-0-1, 4-0-1).

Mattern, who tied the USC program record with her 81st career start, notched two goals in a game for the second time this season. She also vaulted into the top 10 on the program’s career scoring list with her 35th and 36th points.

-- From Staff Reports

Tennis: Four Gamecocks earn titles

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:24 EDT

At Evanston, Ill., USC's Ana Marija Zubori earned co-champion honors after defeating Stacey Lee of Northwestern 6-3, 6- 3 at the Wildcat Invitational.

The Gamecocks' Dijana Stojic and Josefin Andersson shared co-champion accolades in the B flight. Stojic defeated Maria Kalashnikova of Oklahoma 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, while Andersson upended Northwestern's Elena Chernyakova 6-4, 6-2.

USC's Madeleine Saari-Bystrom was co-champion in the C flight following a 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Maggie Remynse of Western Michigan.