No. 14 USC tops Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 14 South Carolina got two scores in the first half and posted a 3-1 Southeastern Conference soccer victory over Arkansas at Razorback Field on Thursday.

The loss leaves the Razorbacks at 5-9-3 overall and 2-5-2 in the SEC. South Carolina is now 13-3-2 overall and 7-1-1 in the league.

South Carolina, thethird ranked team the Razorbacks have faced this season, scored late in the first half, but got two goals in just over two minutes.

Rae Wilson got her first goal of the season on an assist from Kira Campbell at 37:14. The ball was played into the box and Wilson got behind the keeper to tap it in to the left side of the net.

At 39:09, Kayla Grimsley scored her 11th goal of the season. She played the ball off her chest and fired a shot in front of the goal from about 10 yards out.

For the half, USC out-shot Arkansas 8-3 with a 4-0 lead in shots on goal. Arkansas had a 3-2 lead in corners.

"We started off out of sync tonight," head coach Erin Aubry said. "When you start off like that, it’s hard to get back on track. We’ve played a tough schedule all year. We just need to stay on course. We have goals we want to accomplish and we know they are doable. We just need to stay focused."

The Gamecocks pushed the margin to 3-0 at 54:43 when Ellen Fahey scored her second goal of the season on a header off a corner kick from Brittiny Rhoades.

Arkansas got on the board at 65:55 when senior midfielder Kelsey Allison scored her team-leading seventh goal of the year.

For the game, USC doubled Arkansas in shot attempts, 14-7, and had a 7-2 lead in shots on goal. The Gamecocks also had a 7-3 lead in corner kicks. Arkansas was called for seven fouls and USC for three.

Before the game, 12 seniors were recognized before their last appearance at Razorback Field, including Allison, manager Dani Alexander, forward Ally Atkins, defender Sam Bolton, midfielder Rachel Carlson, midfielder Camille Flores, defender Lauren Hallauer, defender Beth McVean, forward Erin Moskos, midfielder Kelly O’Connor, forward Laurel Pastor and goalkeeper Britni Williams.

"We are celebrating the way play soccer and they really helped change the course of this program," Aubry said. "Those seniors have so much personality and talent. It’s hard to let go and say goodbye."

Allison had three of Arkansas’ shot attempts, Moskos two, and Pastor and Flores one each. Allison and Moskos had one shot on goal each.

Arkansas is on the road this weekend. The Razorbacks play Sunday at 12:30 at No. 8 Florida beforeending the regular season on Oct. 29 at LSU.

Download: ark, usc box.pdf