South Carolina soccer teams feature scoring stars

South Carolina soccer players Savannah McCaskill of Chapin and Danny Deakin of Sheffield, England, grew up 4,000 miles apart, but they’re on strikingly similar paths.

Not only are the talented athletes both hard-working leaders on their teams and top players in their conferences, they share the distinction of being among 64 on the watch list for the 2016 Missouri Athletic Club’s (MAC) Hermann Trophy, the highest individual award for collegiate soccer players.

Deakin is coming off his junior year and first season as a Gamecock. The midfielder transferred from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa., where he was a two-time first-team Daktronics All-American. In 2015, he led the Gamecocks and finished second in Conference USA with 11 goals and is the only USC men’s soccer player to reach double-digit goals since 2008.

While Deakin believes winning the MAC Hermann Trophy would be a big achievement, his primary focus is to help his team this season.

“I am still working as hard as ever to get in top shape for the season, and nothing changes from previous years,” Deakin said. “It’s just business as usual. I am confident in my ability and confident in my teammates to perform this season.”

Two-year Gamecock starting forward McCaskill will kick off her junior season in August. Leading the Gamecocks with 29 points and 10 goals last season, she is eighth in program history for career assists with 14 and 10th for career points with 44.

For McCaskill, being named to the watch list is reassurance that she can accomplish her dream of playing professionally someday.

“It’s more of a reassurance that what I’m doing is working,” McCaskill said. “It has been a goal of mine since I was little to play professionally. Whether it be professionally and on the national team as well, it’s becoming more of a realistic goal.”

Both Deakin and McCaskill led their teams in goals last season, so it isn’t surprising they have mutual respect for each other’s games.

“(Danny) has great vision on the ball,” McCaskill said. “He’s very creative when it comes to attacking, and I know he scored many free kick goals for the men’s team last fall. I think he should be on the list. He’s definitely earned his spot.”

Deakin, who watched McCaskill play several times last season, had similar things to say about his counterpart.

“I have seen Savannah play a bunch of times, and she really is great,” Deakin said. “She's got pace, she's creative and she scores goals. I think we should try and get her to play with our team, if that's possible. She fully deserves being recognized on the list, and I think everyone would agree.”

USC is one of four schools to have members from both of its soccer programs named to the watch list.

“I just think that says a huge thing about Gamecock soccer,” McCaskill said. “We take huge pride in our players and what we do on and off the field. I think just overall work ethic and pride in our school is a huge part of the program.”

The top 15 men and top 15 women award semifinalists will be announced in mid-November and the winners will be announced Jan. 8, 2017.