USC’s women’s soccer team prepared for tough test from No. 6 Clemson

The 2016 Palmetto Series opened last week with the Clemson men’s soccer team earning a 2-1 victory over South Carolina.

Now, the women get their turn as the Gamecocks host sixth-ranked Clemson at Stone Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. It’s the first matchup between the teams in Columbia since USC beat the Tigers on penalty kicks to advance in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

The Gamecocks are 3-0-1 and coming off a 2-1 victory on the road against Central Florida. Coach Shelley Smith said her team’s fast start can be credited to a strong offseason.

The Tigers (3-1-1) are led by midfielder Catrina Atanda, who has three goals and scored the game-winner against the Gamecocks last season.

“(Catrina) is a quality player at the midfield and has done some damage on set pieces,” Smith said. “She’s definitely a threat, but Clemson) has a lot of different weapons they can throw at us.”

Smith has been pleased with the play of the backline in the Gamecocks’ first four games.

“They have been a strength early,” Smith said. “A lot of the credit goes to our centerbacks Kaleight Kurtz and Paige Bendell.”

The Gamecocks will be looking to create chances for their leading scorer, Savannah McCaskill, who has three goals.

USC senior captain Chelsea Drennan said “it’s always a little more fun playing Clemson, but we’re trying not to put much stock in it. We know the conference season is just as important.”

Drennan, who needs two more assists to become the program’s all-time leader, said she needs to be a little more selfish in front of the goal.

With both teams having recent success, the rivalry has moved from just the Palmetto State to a national stage.

“I think this is where both teams want this rivalry to get to,” Smith said. “Twenty years ago, Clemson had the advantage. Later, we were able to win five or six in a row. It’s back-and-forth every year, and there’s a lot of pride on the line for both teams.”

This story was originally published September 2, 2016 at 9:58 PM with the headline "USC’s women’s soccer team prepared for tough test from No. 6 Clemson."