Gamecocks Head to SEC Championship After Shocking No. 1 Mississippi State
PENSACOLA, FL – The South Carolina women’s soccer team achieved a stunning victory by defeating the top-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs 3-0 in the SEC Tournament semifinals on Thursday night. This win marked only the second loss of the season for the Bulldogs, who were previously riding a 14-game winning streak. The Gamecocks have not only claimed an important victory but also achieved their first-ever win against a team ranked No. 2 in the nation.
How the Game Unfolded
The match started off with some defensive steadiness from South Carolina, particularly from junior goalkeeper Tina Tsaousis, who made a crucial save in the 15th minute to keep the score level.
The Gamecocks initiated their attack in the 18th minute when freshman forward Katie Shea Collins took the team’s first shot. Despite a competitive first half, both teams had difficulty converting their corner kicks into points.
The breakthrough came in the 48th minute when Collins set up fifth-year player Catherine Barry, who cleverly assisted Brianna Behm. Behm found the back of the net, giving South Carolina a 1-0 lead with just two shots taken so far in the match.
Less than two minutes later, Behm struck again. Senior Lily Render delivered an excellent cross, allowing Behm to score her second goal, pushing the Gamecocks’ lead to 2-0.
Tsaousis continued her strong performance with another save in the 68th minute, maintaining the two-goal cushion for her team. The Gamecocks kept the pressure on, forcing the Bulldogs’ keeper into action with three saves in the second half.
In the 81st minute, Barry was fouled in the penalty area and successfully converted the penalty kick, marking her 16th goal of the season and moving her into second place for the most goals in a season for South Carolina. This was her fourth successful penalty kick of the tournament.
Overall, the Gamecocks put up a strong offensive display with eight shots, seven of which were on target, while limiting the Bulldogs to just two shots on goal, marking Mississippi State’s first goalless game of the year.
Looking Ahead
The Gamecocks will face the No. 3 seed, Texas, in the SEC Championship match this Sunday, November 10, at 2:30 p.m. ET. This will be South Carolina’s third appearance in the SEC Championship in the last six years, and the team is eager to make the most of this opportunity.
