University of South Carolina Libraries
> ' * Women’s soccer upsets Clemson By MATT NAGY THE GAMECOCK It was a goal six years in the making that led the USC women’s soccer team to its first victory over Clemson since 1996. Clemson had shut out USC in every one of their match-ups in the past six years until Wednesday night, when the Gamecocks scored twice to win 2-0. The win was only the second over the Tigers in the team’s nine year history. “Beating Clemson is always a huge win for any Carolina team,” USC head coach Shelley Smith said after the Gamecocks’, victory over the No. 7 Tigers. With luck and some adventurous goalkeeping by freshman • Laura Armstrong, Carolina was able to keep the Tigers off of the score sheet. Armstrong accounted for three saves en route to her second career shutout for USC. Clemson had many offensive chances, including five shots that hit at least one of the three goalposts before trickling out of play. The Tigers had 14 corner kicks but were unable to convert. “You’d like to think out of 14, you would stick one of them in somehow,” Clemson head coach Todd Bramble said. Carolina was the first team to hold Clemson scoreless this season. But the night belonged to co captain Sarah Lentz, as she netted her fourth career goal, her first against Clemson. After Ashley Kirk’s brilliant delivery on an early corner kick, USC freshman Kimmy Gillespie headed the ball off of a Clemson defender and right to the feet of Lentz. Not one to waste an opportunity, the senior put the ball in the back of the net, giving Carolina the lead just 10 minutes into the game. It was a rough and hard-fought battle from that point on as both squads had plenty of chances to score. USC senior Ashley Williams looked to extend her four-game goal-scoring streak and came very close as she knocked the ball off the post midway through the first half. While Williams was unsuccessful in her quest to score, she provided valuable play on the front lines along with Kirk. The freshman from Macon, Ga., was all over the field for the Gamecocks as she had two great goal-scoring opportunities as well as an assist on Lentz’s game winner. The Gamecock defense played very well despite the loss of junior leader Kimmy Criss, who underwent surgery today and will be out of action well into SEC play. “They all stepped up,” said Lentz, who anchored the backline for USC but also received great help from Erin Geldhof on the left side and a solid performance from Jackie Welch at the1 center fullback position. Freshman newcomer Kali Neumann filled in for Criss and played an excellent game, with an aggressive style and fearless attitude to shut down opponents. Whenever Clemson had a chance to score, it seemed a Carolina defender — or the post — CHARLIE DAVENPORT/THE GAMECOCK Sophomore defender Jenna Ball, left, takes the ball away from a Clemson forward Wednesday night in USC’s 2-0 victory. No. 7 Clemson is the highest-ranked team women's soccer has ever defeated. was in perfect position to make the play. The Tigers’ best opportunity came with a little under two minutes remaining in the first half, as a shot sailed high and off the crossbar to the feet of defender Jackie Welch. Welch cleared the ball with ease, and that was the end , of the, Clemson rush for the first ’ half. Carolina was unable to put the ball back into the net until the 83rd minute, when Lexi Randazzo strung a perfect pass between the legs of helpless Clemson defender Sarah Turner. The ball fell perfectly to waiting junior playmaker Amanda Thurber, and she had no trouble finishing as the ball landed past the keeper and into the lower right-hand corner of the net. The game marked USC’s first win over a nationally ranked program since September ,1998, when the Gamecocks knocked off then-No. 17 Georgia. For the seniors it was the first victory against the Tigers after a slew of close games throughout their career. Clemson came into the game ranked as high as seventh in the nation in soccer polls. The Tigers are the highest-ranked team the USC women’s soccer program has beaten in its history. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu * Volleyball to battle Irish, Spartans in weekend Gamecock Invitational KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK Junior Nicole Miller goes for a dig in the team's sweep of Clemson. Matches against Michigan State and Notre Dame will occur as scheduled, but the match against the Trojans has been canceled. ■ Weather causes game cancellation against Trojans By MIQUELJACOBS THE GAMECOCK This weekend was set to begin with the battle of the USCs as the USC volleyball team was scheduled to take on the defending back-to-back national champion University of Southern California Trojans at the Gamecock Invitational before mother nature intervened. The highly anticipated match between the Trojans and Gamecocks was cancelled Thursday because of inclement travel weather that Southern California would have to face. Michigan State and Notre Dame are still on schedule for a weekend of intense volleyball action. “It is very disappointing that Southern Cal will not be able to play here but we still have a great tournament lined up. We are talking about rescheduling a match for Southern Cal to still come out here, but that will be determined at a later date,” head coach Kim Hudson said. “Notre Dame and Michigan State are top 25 caliber teams and you will see some great match-ups this weekend. It is a great credit that our match against Notre Dame is the national match of the week.” Michigan State takes on Carolina on Saturday at noon. The Lady Spartans are back in expected form after participating in their lOth-consecutive NCAA tournament, compiling a 5-1 record to begin the season. The Spartans return four starters from last season and are led hy)unior outside hitter Kim Schfam, In honorable mention All-Americati last season. Michigan State won the previous meeting against Carolina 3-1 at the opening match-up of the Carolina Classic last season. TJris season, Carolina hopes to build an early lead against the Spartans to force them to fight their‘ way back, which they failed toetd j/i mSijJone loss this season. ■ ' ''.<*'/ Action closes $unda)cWtern6on. as the, Gamecocks play Notre, Day>ii5^4-3) for the second time ii\ two years. Last season, the Nb. ,l£ Fighting Irish were upset by , Carolina on their home court and hope to return the favor to the Gamecocks this season in Columbia. Junior middle blocker Lauren Brewster is coming off of a week in which she earned Big East Conference Player of the Week honors, the fourth of her career to go along with the honorable mention All-American status earned last season. The match-up between the two teams will begin at 2 p.m. and will be the first television broadcast of the season for the Gamecocks, airing on CSTV in South Bend. South Carolina has begun its season strong, compiling a 5-2 record coming into the home tournahient. The Gamecock Invitational will be the third straight tournament weekend for the Gamecocks, who finished second place at both the Wake Forest Invitational and the Duke Invitational. Following an impressive sweep of Clemson last week in front of a record crowd, the Gamecocks have performed with a new intensity that they hope will carry into their Friday match up with the second-ranked Trojans. The Gafaiecocks ha^-'Abeen 8 3 T balanced Vjdttack rather than relying on individual performances fprv a vie j Keeping a balarwttf attack wi k crucial as the Gamecocks hope to pull a few upsets and gear up for SEC play, which begins next week. Comments on this story ? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu GAMECOCK CHALLENGE THE CHALLENGE: Every week, The Gamecock’s readers and staff test their sports knowledge with game predictions. 11 Florida at 13 Tennessee 5 LSU at 14 Auburn_ 21 Maryland at 7 West Virginia ^ 90hio State at N.C. State Clemson at Texas A&M Vanderbilt at Ole Miss_ Oregon at Oklahoma Indiana at Kentucky Nebraska at Pittsburgh South Florida at USC Jonathan Hillyard Sports editor (12-4) Florida Auburn Maryland N.C. State Clemson Vandy Okla. ~~ Indiana Pittsburgh "use 35-7 Adam Beam Editor in chief (11-5) Florida Auburn WVU Ohio State Texas A&M Ole Miss_ Okla. Kentucky Pittsburgh use 38-7 David Stagg Design director (14-2) Florida LSU WVU Ohio State Clemson Ole Miss Okla. Indiana Pittsburgh use 28-14 Wes Wolfe Viewpoint: editor (10-6) Florida LSU Maryland N.C. State Clemson Ole Miss ^kla Kentucky Pittsburgh use 24-10 Steven Van Haren Copy editor (13-3) Tennessee LSU WVU_ Ohio State Texas A&M Olfe Miss ' Okla. Indiana Nebraska use 21-7 Mike Shealy Reader of the week (10-6) Florida Auburn WVU Ohio State Clemson Vandy Okla. Indiana Nebraska use 42-10 WANT TO BE READER OF THE WEEK? E-MAIL SELECTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK’S GAMES TO GAMECOCKSPORTS@GWM.SC.EDU. LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Sports Editor Jonathan Hillyard got back into the race with an 8-2 week, tying Stagg and Van Haren for the week’s best record. January-May 2005 Priority I: University Wide Events_September 17,2004 Priority II: Carolina Productions...September 20,2004 Priority III: Registered Student Organizations ....Sept.21,2004 Priority IV: Other....September 22,2004 ###**#**#**##*^**##****###**j | Lottery September 21,2004 * Priority Reservations Lottery 2nd Floor Lobby Russell House September 21,2004 9am - 1st Ballroom Date 10am - 2nd Ballroom Date NOTE; Academic space will not be reserved until February, 2005 Because of the high demand for space in the Russell House a "lottery" system is used to ensure equitable distribution of space to registered student organizations. The highest level of demand is for Ballroom reservations, however, the lottery system will apply to all reservable spaces in the Russell House. For more information, contact the Reservations Office at 777-7127 or stop by Russell House 218. ■ USF Continued from page 8 with both of the quarterbacks.” STILL SORE Cornerback Mike Jenkins was limited in practice because he has a sore shoulder and neck. Jenkins was involved in a violent hit that left Tennessee Tech’s Drew Hixon in a drug-induced coma. Leavitt and the team are still emotionally affected by the incident. “It rips your heart out, there is no doubt about that,” Leavitt'said. “I’ve been in this game a long time and have been around a lot of football games. I played it myself since I was a little guy. It’s a physical ballgame, and things can happen. It certainly is not the fault of anybody. We hope that things work out and that he gets through this. That’s just where we’re at with that, there is really nothing else to really say about that.” Jenkins said he expects to play Saturday. QUOTABLE “That’s not surprising to me that (the Gamecocks) are favored. They are a very good team. And the way we played last week wouldn’t lead anybody to believe that we would be successful. But we know as a team where we are,” said Lee Roy Selmon Jr., on being an underdog this week at USC. «. I' out ^amecsfi^> special football recap in full Monday on the ^Jthe paper. rw _ i