Just short: Gamecock women’s soccer falls shy of College Cup with loss in Elite Eight
South Carolina women’s soccer couldn’t have gotten any closer to the College Cup.
But in the end, the Gamecocks fell just short, losing 1-0 in overtime of the Elite Eight to Washington State at Stone Stadium.
In the 96th minute of a tense, physical, back-and-forth affair, Washington State got a corner kick, and defender Mykiaa Minniss came flying in off the back post to redirect a header from USC’s Rebecca Koch past keeper Mikayla Krzeczowski to end the game.
“I usually have to stay back to defend, and I looked at (coach Todd Shulenberger) and I was like, ‘Yeah, let me go, let me go,’ and he’s like, ‘Yeah, go ahead,’” Minniss said. “I just came in super late so they didn’t see me, and as soon as the ball came to me, all I was thinking was ‘Oh, you got this.’”
The corner came after WSU pushed deep into Carolina territory, only for Gamecock defender Samantha Chang to get the ball in space. Instead of clearing it deep, however, she sent it out along the end line, setting up the game-winning score.
Extra time was almost not needed, as South Carolina made a late push and had several solid opportunities inside the box late. Starting in the 79th minute, the Gamecocks got off six shots over the next 11 minutes, including three in short succession that included an attempt by sophomore Riley Tanner inside the six-yard box where she went down under contact, though no penalty was awarded.
Then, with less than three minutes to play, Washington State committed two hard fouls, giving USC free kicks it served into the box for chances to no avail. Finally, with under a minute to go in regulation, the Gamecocks picked up a corner and Rebecca Koch got one final shot off, but it was not on target, sending the game to overtime.
“It was a battle for sure,” South Carolina coach Shelley Smith said. “We had to play through that, and there were some collisions, there were some things, that I think could have been calls made, but both teams battled, and you just have to play through it and pick your times and try to get one, and I just think it was a well-played game.”
While South Carolina owned a 61%-39% advantage in possession, shots were an even 15-15, with neither team putting an attempt on goal.
The Cougars did have the better opportunities earlier, including two one-on-ones with the keeper. In the sixth minute, a cross sliced through USC’s box untouched to the far post, only for Averie Collins to miss wide left.
In the 29th minute, a South Carolina corner kick was cleared and turned into a breakaway opportunity for the Cougars, and Morgan Weaver juked out All-SEC defender Grace Fisk to get an open look, but her attempt sailed well high.
The Gamecocks, meanwhile, got some offensive push in large part from forward Luciana Zullo, who had five shots, but none of their chances put as much pressure on Washington State’s defense.
Zullo’s most dangerous opportunity might have been without a shot at all — in the 47th minute she drove down the right side of the field and tried to cut in, going down between two WSU defenders under heavy contact. Her appeal for a penalty went unrewarded, however.
The Gamecocks also had to were missing a key defensive piece late — in the 62nd minute, All-SEC center back Anna Patten went down with an ankle injury and never returned.
The defeat marked South Carolina’s only home loss of the season and just the program’s third in four years. It also ended a seven-match winning streak that included a run to an SEC tournament title and the team’s third Elite Eight appearance in four years.
“We just have so many friendships that transcend age and class (on this team),” junior midfielder Lauren Chang said. “For that to happen is really special.”
This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 8:15 PM.
