The Gamecock women’s soccer team defeated Vanderbilt 1-0 on Thursday night, maintaining intensity throughout the match.
The Gamecocks were the aggressors throughout the entire game, constantly pushing the ball downfield on the Commodores.
Junior defender Camryn Dixon led the opening efforts with an early shot, setting the tone for the game. South Carolina logged three shots in the first half and paired it with incredible defense, not allowing Vanderbilt to get a shot the whole first half.
Despite the constant attacks from South Carolina, the game remained scoreless until the second half.
South Carolina came out of halftime and immediately turned up the heat, recording six shots in the second half.
A little more than halfway through, fans got excited after graduate student midfielder Lauren Chang went for the goal. Their cheers turned to boos however when the referee called a yellow card on Chang, keeping the score tied at 0-0.
The scoring drought didn’t last for long after that. Junior forward Eveleen Hahn was able to score a goal, assisted by Dixon, in the 70th minute.
The offense wasn’t the only thing applying pressure, however, as South Carolina’s defense held the Commodores to only two shots for the entire game.
“We did well to limit them. Every time they crossed, they countered, they looked dangerous. We stifled their opportunities in the end. It was a great recovery," head coach Shelley Smith said postgame. "The whole team played well, played together, recovered for each other when they needed to and that’s what you have to do defensively to win games."
With Thursday night's win, the Gamecocks improve their record to 7-2 for the season. They will take the field again on Sunday when they travel to Lexington, Kentucky to take on the Wildcats on Sunday at 2 p.m.