USC Women Earn All-SEC Honors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (USC SID) — After leading the Gamecocks with 15 points in the regular season, forward Savannah McCaskill was named SEC Freshman of the Year, the league office announced today. Seniors Sabrina D‘Angelo and Taylor Leach were selected to the All-SEC First Team while McCaskill also earned a spot on the All-SEC Second Team and was named to the All-Freshman team. McCaskill scored four of her team-leading five goals in conference play, a total that leads the league rookies. Her 10 points in conference play also leads the pack. The highlight of the Chapin, S.C., native‘s season came in the 3-2 win over then-No. 5 Florida on Oct. 16. McCaskill scored two goals for the Gamecocks in the match, including the 89th minute game-winner. For her performance against the Gators, McCaskill earned her second SEC Freshman of the Week honor, becoming the first Gamecock to earn multiple freshman of the week recognitions. The honor is the third SEC Freshman of the Year accolade for a Gamecock. D‘Angelo last earned the honor for the Gamecocks in 2011 while Ashley Kirk was the first in program history in 2004. McCaskill was the only member of the All-Freshman team to also earn an All-SEC nod, earning placement on the second team. “I‘m very excited for her and the program. I think she represents our program very well and has a very promising future for us,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said. “I‘m especially proud that she‘s from Columbia and stayed nearby for collegiate career and has been doing what she‘s capable of. I‘m looking forward to seeing her develop for many more years. She‘s been a great addition to our team. Her hard work and overall ability has been a big help to us this year. I‘m glad she‘s being honored for that effort.” With her spot on the first team, D‘Angelo has earned All-SEC placement each year of her career. This season, D‘Angelo has notched nine shutouts, bringing her career total to 28, just three behind school record holder Mollie Patton. D’Angelo has allowed just 0.57 goals a game this season and has seen more than one goal scored on her just twice in 2014 (3-2 W vs. No. 5 Florida, 2-2 T at No. 6 Texas A&M). In all, just 11 goals have been scored on D’Angelo this year, a total that tops the SEC. No other league team has allowed less than 16 goals this season. Leach earned a selection to the All-SEC First Team for the second-straight season after captaining the top defense in the conference yet again. The center back and the Gamecocks led the conference in nearly every statistical average, including goals allowed (11), goals against average (0.58), shots on goal allowed (60) and points allowed (31). The South Carolina backline limited 10 of its 11 league opponents to 5 shots on goal or less. Leach also scored a pair of goals in the season opener at ECU. No. 5 seed South Carolina takes on No. 4 seed Missouri in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday in Orange Beach, Ala. Kickoff between the Gamecocks and Tigers is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. The SEC Network will broadcast the match. 2014 SEC Women‘s Soccer Awards First Team All-SEC Forward: Bianca Brinson, Texas A&M Forward: Simone Charley, Vanderbilt Forward: Savannah Jordan, Florida Forward: Annie Kunz, Texas A&M Midfielder: Kaysie Clark, Missouri Midfielder: Shea Groom, Texas A&M Midfielder: Gabby Seiler, Georgia Midfielder: Havana Solaun, Florida Defender: Tessa Andujar, Florida Defender: Arin Gilliland, Kentucky Defender: Taylor Leach, South Carolina Defender: Meghan Streight, Texas A&M Defender: Christen Westphal, Florida Goalkeeper: Sabrina D‘Angelo, South Carolina Second Team All-SEC Forward: Marion Crowder, Georgia Forward: Jade Klump, Kentucky Forward: Savannah McCaskill, South Carolina Forward: Laura Lee Smith, Alabama Midfielder: Kelley Monogue, Texas A&M Midfielder: Courtney Raetzman, Kentucky Midfielder: Casie Ramsier, Auburn Midfielder: Reagan Russell, Missouri Midfielder: Merel van Dongen, Alabama Defender: Janae Cousineau, Texas A&M Defender: Claire Falknor, Florida Defender: Kala Faulkner, Auburn Defender: Candace Johnson, Missouri Goalkeeper: Emily Rusk, Alabama All-Freshman Team Carlyn Baldwin, Tennessee Jorian Baucom, LSU Taylor Braun, Kentucky Kaitlyn Clark, Missouri Kristen Dodson, Auburn Mallory Eubanks, Mississippi State Kelsey Killean, Georgia Savannah McCaskill, South Carolina McKayla Paulson, Texas A&M Lydia Simmons, Vanderbilt Alexis Urch, LSU Coach of the Year G Guerrieri, Texas A&M Offensive Player of the Year Shea Groom, Texas A&M Defensive Player of the Year Arin Gilliland, Kentucky Freshman of the Year Savannah McCaskill, South Carolina Scholar-Athlete of the Year Laura Lee Smith, Alabama