Nothing gets past USC freshman goalkeeper

Freshman goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski and goalkeepers coach Clark McCarthy might be in their inaugural seasons at USC, but they’re already earning their keep.

Krzeczowski, of Douglasville, Ga., is a key factor in the women’s soccer team’s unbeaten start this season. She leads the SEC in goals against average (0.43) and save percentage (.852), and has registered five shutouts.

She enrolled at USC in the spring, but wasn’t expecting to earn the starting position this fall.

“I knew that goalkeeper position was going to be competitive. In the preseason practice, me and Hunter (Peifer) were both competing for a position, and I knew it was just kind of up in the air,” Krzeczowski said. “I was just trying really hard to start.”

McCarthy, a Columbia native, joined USC in June after serving as the men’s soccer coach at Dreher High for five years. With his help, Krzeczowski won the starting job and made her presence felt. In just 12 games, the Gamecocks have surpassed their shutout total from last season with seven.

Krzeczowski has given up one goal in conference play and has made game-clinching saves in significant matchups, including a 2-1 home victory against Clemson when she swatted away a long-distance shot in the 85th minute.

“For a second there, it didn’t hit me that we beat our in-state rival and I’m a freshman, so it was my first victory over them,” Krzeczowski said. “I just got so excited and I knew for the rest of the season that was a feeling I wanted to feel at the end of every game.”

Following her performance in a 3-0 win against Kentucky where she collected two saves, Krzeczowksi earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Sept. 26.

However, McCarthy believes Krzeczowski’s save against Georgia was one of her best moments this season.

“She made a really point-blank save on the line, and that was really exciting to see,” McCarthy said. “It was a pivotal moment in the game, and I think for her to pull that save off helped not only her, but it helped the team as well, just from a confidence standpoint.”

In USC’s most recent victory, a 1-0 win against Texas A&M, Krzeczowski totaled two saves to improve her record to 8-0-1.

As McCarthy replaces former assistant coach Libby Bassett and Krzeczowski replaces upperclassmen keepers Caroline Kelly and Abbey Crider, both newcomers know they have big cleats to fill.

“I just want to keep the shutouts coming and keep the wins coming,” Krzeczowski said. “We’re on a great roll right now, and if we keep adding to it, I think we will do everything in our power to win an SEC Championship.”

This story was originally published October 3, 2016 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Nothing gets past USC freshman goalkeeper."