No. 7 Gamecocks Draw 1-1 at No. 24 Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. – After
strong first half from South Carolina (12-2-2, 5-2-1), Ole Miss
(12-3-2, 5-2-1) equalized in the second half as the two sides battled
to a 1-1 double overtime draw this afternoon at Ole Miss Soccer
Stadium. The Gamecocks held a 14-9 shot advantage in the game, holding
a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.
After defending some early pressure
from the Rebels, the Gamecocks capitalized on their first opportunity
of the game in the sixth minute. Sophomore midfielder Raina Johnson
slipped a cross into the box that was deflected by an Ole Miss defender
but the ball was teed up just outside the six-yard box freshman Chelsea
Drennan. The play-making midfielder drilled the close-range shot past
Kelly McCormick for the first goal of her career.
Danielle Au
nearly doubled the lead just under seven minutes later on South
Carolina’s second attempt of the match. The senior striker found space
from just outside the right side of the 18 and ripped a high shot to
the far side of goal, but McCormick was able to extended and tip the
ball up and over the crossbar for a corner.
Au had another
chance in the 19th minute, but her attempt was wide of the mark. Nearly
four minutes later, patient build up from the Gamecocks outside the 18
led to an open look for sophomore Stevi Parker, but the midfielder’s
shot floated left of the post.
Shots continued to add up
throughout the half for the Gamecocks to the tune of a 9-0 advantage at
the half, with five on frame, but the insurance goal didn’t come.
Looking
like the first half, Ole Miss came out with heavy pressure with three
corners and a pair of shots, but the Gamecock defense stood tall and
weathered the early storm.
Freshman Daija Griffin nearly gave
South Carolina the insurance goal it needed in the 66th minute after a
ball was whipped in six yards out from goal, but her volley ended up
high over the crossbar.
The miss proved costly as just over
eight minutes later, Ole Miss’ Jennifer Miller sent a ball into the box
that Olivia Harrsion brought down and hit a low shot that snuck just
into the right netting past junior goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo.
D’Angelo
was called into action again in the 81st minute as a through ball to
the top of the box found Harrison who struck a low shot to the left
post. Diving to her right, D’Angelo was able to knock the ball out for
a corner.
With the two sides level through 90 minutes, the game
headed to overtime, the Gamecocks fourth of the season. Sophomore
midfielder Coryn Bajema had Carolina’s best chance of extra time in the
108th minute. Defender Carly Ray sent a throw-in into the box where it
was flicked to far post on a header. Bajema came sliding in to get a
foot on the ball at the far post, but the effort landed in the side
netting.
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