South Carolina women's soccer sees NCAA Tournament journey end after 2nd-round loss to Minnesota

The South Carolina women’s soccer team’s NCAA Tournament matchup played as a tale of two halves.

In the first half, the Gamecocks dominated on offense. That momentum quickly exchanged hands in the second. But a famous quote from author Jim George would aptly summarize the match’s eventual outcome: “It’s not how you start that’s important, but how you finish.”

Minnesota, the team that finished strongest, would emerge victorious. The No. 3 seed Gamecocks, despite taking an early lead, fell 2-1 to the No. 6 seed Golden Gophers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon.

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The tempo of the match was quick from the very start. Minnesota recorded the first shot of the contest in the fourth minute, when Sophia Boman fired an effort from distance on frame. Christina Tsaousis dove to parry the ball away from the bottom-center portion of the goal to claim her first save of the afternoon.

The Gamecocks provided a response at the other end of the pitch less than one minute later. Brianna Behm put herself on the stat sheet with a shot attempt of her own, but Golden Gophers goalkeeper Sarah Martin tipped the ball over the crossbar for a corner kick.

While South Carolina did not score on that sustained period of attack, it would not stay off the scoreboard for long.

A long ball from the Gamecocks’ defensive line found the head of Catherine Barry, who deftly touched the ball to Corinna Zullo. Zullo, streaking down the sidelines, dribbled until she reached Minnesota’s goal line, where she forced a defender to commit to her.

Zullo then crossed the ball into the six-yard box. Katie Shea Collins was the first player to reach it, and she fired a first-time strike towards the far post. The ball curled into the back of the net, giving South Carolina an early 1-0 lead.

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The Gamecocks continued their offensive barrage as the half went along. In the 16th minute, Zullo recorded two shots from close range. One of these efforts was blocked, and the other went wide left. Barry recorded her first shot of the match, which went narrowly wide to the right, one minute later.

That would be the most dangerous opportunity South Carolina would have for the remainder of the period. The Gamecocks and the Golden Gophers registered two shots on goal each in the opening 45 minutes, but South Carolina out-shot Minnesota 11-4 overall. The Gamecocks also had three corner kicks to the Golden Gophers’ zero.

Those attacking trends would quickly reverse after the halftime break, as Minnesota gained offensive momentum. And it would remain that way for the rest of the match, as the Golden Gophers out-shot South Carolina 16-15 and held an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal over the course of 90 minutes.

Golden Gophers forward Khyah Harper, who had been silenced for much of the first half, made her presence felt early in the second. She went on a lengthy dribbling run past multiple Gamecock defenders until she came close to the goal. But the angle of her shot was too right, and Tsousis made the save.

Within the next five minutes, both Harper and Evelyn Calhoon looped dangerous shots toward South Carolina’s net. Tsaousis had to tip both attempts over the crossbar for corner kicks.

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Minnesota’s sustained period off attack would bear fruit in the 57th minute, when both Harper and Gracie Falla lunged for a contested aerial ball in the penalty area. Falla clipped Harper’s foot from behind, which resulted in a penalty kick. A video review confirmed the referee’s original call on the field.

Boman, the creator of scoring chances earlier in the contest, stepped up to take the penalty kick. And she buried it in the top corner of the goal, knotting the game at one goal apiece.

By the 70-minute mark, the Golden Gophers would have a lead. Minnesota forward Sophia Romine received a wide area of space to dribble down the middle of the field after an exchange of possession. Just as Romine approached another Gamecock defender, she unleashed a shot from long range. The ball flew past Tsousis, who could not make a diving save.

Over the next 20 minutes, South Carolina had multiple chances to score a second goal and send the match to overtime. But the Gamecocks’ comeback efforts proved to be unsuccessful, as the Gophers clinched an upset win.

Next up

With the defeat, South Carolina has been eliminated from NCAA Tournament play.

Minnesota will advance to the tournament’s round of 16. The Golden Gophers will take on the winner of No. 2 seed North Carolina and Santa Clara on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m., and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.

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