USC women’s soccer set to host NCAA Tournament match

The South Carolina women’s soccer team has one win in its past six matches, but that doesn’t matter as the Gamecocks get set to start NCAA Tournament play on Friday at 6 p.m. against UNC Wilmington.

USC, which reached the Elite Eight a season ago, is hoping for another deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks will play at home for the third straight season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and will likely face No. 1 seed Virginia with a win.

“We’ve had to make sure that they are in the right mindset,” coach Shelley Smith said. “Our team has definitely taken its lumps the last couple of weeks. It can be very deflating the way we’ve lost some of the games and things haven’t quite gone our way. Our job as coaches is to make sure that the team is ready to go.”

Smith said her team will be ready because of its experience. South Carolina’s playing in the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in nine years and has won five consecutive first-round NCAA games.

“We’ve worked hard to have this kind of success. It’s something that we’ve come to expect,” she said. “The majority of the team has been there and knows what it’s like. I think there’s more of an excitement than there is a nervous feeling.”

Despite late season struggles, South Carolina still has a solid overall resume. The Gamecocks are 12-4-3, including a 9-1 mark at home.

USC’s averaging 2,850 fans, and Smith is hoping for another solid crowd.

“That makes a huge, huge difference. We’ve been thrilled with the attendance this year and the past couple of years,” she said. “Our fans are some of the best in the country. You look at our home record and it’s been excellent. A lot of that has to do with our atmosphere.”

UNC Wilmington has played a game in South Carolina this year, falling 2-1 to Clemson in August.

“The last time we played them is three years ago and both teams are very different,” Smith said. “They are an athletic team that will put a lot of pressure on you.”

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 8:18 PM.