South Carolina women's soccer earns dominant win over East Carolina in 1st round of 2024 NCAA Tournament
A lot can happen over the course of a 90-minute soccer match. But in many cases, one play (or string of plays) can give a team the momentum boost it needs to earn a victory.
30 minutes into South Carolina’s first-round NCAA Tournament match against East Carolina, both teams were scoreless. But the Gamecocks would soon grab the lead, build on it and not let it go in a 6-0 win over the Pirates Friday night at Stone Stadium.
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The match started with methodical play from both sides, which maintained possession of the ball near midfield – a common thread in South Carolina’s postseason contests this year.
The Gamecocks emerged on the front foot offensively early in the first half. South Carolina earned its first corner kick in the seventh minute, and its first shot on target came four minutes later. Catherine Barry directed an effort towards goal, but it was saved by Pirates goalkeeper Maeve English.
East Carolina’s players quickly ran across the field following English’s save and created the team’s most dangerous scoring opportunity of the first half. The counterattack resulted in midfielder Samantha Moxie giving herself enough space outside the Gamecocks’ 18-yard box to curl a shot that crossed the face of goal but moved just wide of the right post.
That would be the Pirates’ lone shot of the first half, as South Carolina’s defensive line held firm over the opening 45 minutes. The Gamecocks controlled the tempo of the match, which led to East Carolina generating its offensive attacks against the run of play.
The Gamecocks continued piling pressure on the Pirates’ defense as the half went along. Shots from Brianna Behm, Corinna Zullo and Katie Shea Collins did not find their marks.
But in the 31st minute, the Gamecocks finally found their breakthrough – times two.
Gracie Falla possessed the ball well in her defensive half of the field. Seeing Collins streak down the field, Falla launched a long ball in her direction. Collins ran past her mark and took one touch to control the ball before firing it past a diving English into the back of the net to give South Carolina a 1-0 lead.
The Gamecocks’ second goal of the match would come only seconds later. On the team’s next offensive attack, an East Carolina defender tugged on Barry’s jersey in an attempt to stop her. This tugging carried into the penalty area, prompting the referee to point towards the penalty spot when Barry fell down.
The play proceeded to go under video review, but the referee upheld her previous call. Barry stepped up to take the kick and buried it to double South Carolina’s lead. The goal was Barry’s 17th of the season and fourth since the start of the SEC Tournament.
Her strike proved to be an important goal in the history of Gamecock women’s soccer – it was the 50th of Barry’s career, which tied an all-time program record. It also happened in Barry’s 100th appearance for South Carolina.
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Heading into Friday night, Jennie Ondo Lloyd, who played for the Gamecocks from 1996 to 1999, was the sole player at the top of the program’s goal-scoring leaderboard. Ondo and Barry would not share this distinction for long.
In the 55th minute, Collins attempted to find Barry’s foot with a through ball, but it was cleared by a Pirates defender. The clearance deflected off the foot of Cuyler Zulauf and back into the direction of Barry. Barry then poked the ball with her left foot through two defenders and English into the back of the net. The Gamecocks led 3-0, and Barry made history in the process.
South Carolina’s scoring efforts did not end there. Around 90 seconds later, Hallie Meadows launched another long ball forward. Zullo, running down the right sideline, hit a first-time cross into the six-yard box. Collins crashed into the goal area and fired the ball into the back of the net, putting the Gamecocks up 4-0.
Despite the deficit, East Carolina found a source of momentum in the 62nd minute. Reagan Schubach stepped up to take a penalty kick after a South Carolina player earned a foul in the box. Schubach offered a well-delivered strike, but English made a diving save to her right.
English’s penalty save was not enough to help the Pirates mount a comeback, though. East Carolina recorded just two shots, none of which were on goal, in the contest.
South Carolina put the cherry on top of a sweet night with two more goals later in the match.
In the 76th minute, Barry lofted a looping cross into East Carolina’s goal area that English could not take care of. Collins capitalized on the goalkeeper’s mistake with a strong header to make the score 5-0 and earn her second hat trick of the season.
South Carolina then earned another penalty in the 82nd minute. Taylor Fox, the Gamecocks’ graduate student goalkeeper who was substituted into the match less than one minute earlier, stepped up to take the ensuing penalty kick. Fox’s strike found the back of the net, building the team’s lead to six goals.
Next up
With the victory, South Carolina advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks will take on the winner of No. 6 seed Minnesota and South Dakota State. The date, time and location of the match will be announced at a later date.
