Gamecocks win overtime thriller with Notre Dame, 1-0
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (WOLO) — The eleventh-ranked USC women’s soccer team edged Notre Dame Friday, 1-0 in an incredible win on the road Friday night.
Freshman forward Ryan Gareis netted the game-winner in the 102nd minute to lift No. 11 South Carolina women’s soccer to a dramatic 1-0 victory over Notre Dame Friday night at Alumni Stadium. The result marked the first road victory of the season for the Gamecocks, who improved to 4-1-0 overall following the win.
Carolina senior forward Savannah McCaskill set up the game-winning tally, threading a well-placed through ball to Gareis deep inside the box. Gareis one-timed the pass with her right foot and sent a shot towards Notre Dame goalkeeper Brooke Littman as defenders surrounded the Carolina attacker. The ball clipped off the hands of Littman before ricocheting off the left post and into the net. Gareis’ tally marked the first of her collegiate career.
Gamecock sophomore goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski produced her best showing of the season, totaling a career-high nine saves for the match. She denied several long-range efforts from the Irish and did a good job of coming off her line when the ball was sent into the box. In the 80th minute, Krzeczowski positioned herself at the near post to stop a hard-hit shot from the right side by Irish midfielder Sandra Yu. She again delivered in the first overtime period after racing off her line to prevent a Notre Dame forward from one-timing a shot from 10 yards away.
The Gamecocks outshot the Irish 19-12 in regulation and boasted several scoring chances down the stretch of the second half. A beautiful pass from McCaskill midway through the period set up Gareis on the break, and the freshman attacker raced into the left side of the box before sending in a low cross that couldn’t produce any danger. Carolina nearly broke through in the 64th minute on senior midfielder Lindsey Lane’s brilliant strike from well outside the box. Her shot sailed past Littman and hit off the inside of the right post. The Gamecocks were unable to do anything with the loose ball in front of the net, and the danger was cleared.
Gareis saw another chance to put Carolina on the board in the 81st minute when she collected the ball near the left side of the attacking third. She used her speed to get into the box and get off a clean shot that almost beat Littman, who was unable to make a clean save. The Gamecocks couldn’t take advantage on the rebound, as another attempt from Gareis sent the ball out of bounds.
Gamecock freshman midfielder Lauren Chang, who finished the match with a game-high six shots, remained active in the second half and nearly tallied a late game-winner in the 89th minute. The Alpharetta, Ga., native gathered a pass and made a nice move to find some space and free herself up for a shot at the top of the box. Her attempt sent the ball just wide right, and the two teams headed to overtime a minute later.
South Carolina was unable to find the back of the net in the first half despite a 9-7 shot advantage over the opening 45 minutes. The Gamecocks saw their first quality scoring chance in the 20th minute on the counter attack when forward Elexa Bahr slipped the ball to fellow sophomore Tatumn Milazzo near the right side of the box. Milazzo took one dribble before firing a shot that sailed over the crossbar.
Carolina produced a chance from the left side minutes later after Gareis fed the ball to Anna Conklin in the box. The senior defender collected the pass and rifled a low shot that called for a diving save by Littman. Chang generated Carolina’s final scoring opportunity of the first half in the 42nd minute after displaying great footwork to get inside the box. Notre Dame’s defense quickly collapsed around her, and stifled the scoring chance near the left side of the net.
Krzeczowski was busy throughout the opening period, racking up four saves before the teams headed to the locker room. The Douglasville, Ga., native did a good job to stop a hard-hit dribbling attempt from outside the box by Notre Dame Jennifer Westerndorf in the 18th minute, and she denied another scoring chance late in the first half. A cross in from the left side found Megan McCashland, and the Irish midfielder headed a shot that fell directly to the hands of Krzeczowski.
The Gamecocks ended the contest with a 21-14 shot advantage and put six attempts on frame. Both teams totaled double-digit fouls, while Notre Dame attempted three corner kicks compared to just two for Carolina.
USC Athletics contributed to the writing of this article.
