'That's an amazing accomplishment': Catherine Barry becomes South Carolina women's soccer's all-time leading goalscorer
Jennie Ondo Lloyd had remained atop the South Carolina women’s soccer program’s all-time scoring leaderboard for the last 25 years.
Lloyd joined the Gamecocks during the second year of its existence in 1996. Over the course of a four-year career, she found the back of the net 50 times.
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Since then, multiple South Carolina players have come close to reaching that mark. Kayla Grimsley, a forward on the team between 2008 and 2011, scored 43 collegiate goals. Savannah McCaskill, a seven-year veteran of the National Women’s Soccer League, netted 40 goals from 2014 to 2017.
But on Nov. 15, a current South Carolina striker in the upper echelon of all-time Gamecock goalscorers found herself solely in first place in the program’s record books. Catherine Barry, by scoring twice in the team’s 6-0 victory over East Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, became South Carolina’s career leader in goals.
“That’s an amazing accomplishment – just understanding the other players who’ve come through this program,” Barry said. “I think it’s just unbelievable to even be considered in the same conversations as those players.”
Lloyd’s all-time scoring mark is not the only record Barry has broken this season. Earlier in the 2024 campaign, Barry broke (and has since surpassed) McCaskill’s program record for game-winning goals. McCaskill finished her career with 17, while Barry already has 20.
McCaskill also was the Gamecocks’ single-season goal-scoring record holder before this year. She scored 17 goals during the 2017 season, which has been eclipsed by Barry’s 18 so far in 2024. Five of those goals have come in her last four contests, all of which took place during SEC and NCAA tournament play.
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Barry said her teammates and coaches have helped her achieve this mark.
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“It wouldn’t happen without all of the amazing players like Katie (Shea Collins), everyone else I’ve played with over the years who have made me look good, day in and day out, and pushed me to be better every day,” Barry said. “I’m really thankful for that.”
Barry’s impact on the South Carolina women’s soccer program extends far beyond goals, though. In addition to leading the team with eight assists this season, she has made the All-SEC First Team three times. Barry is also one of five players who decided to use an extra year of eligibility granted to her because of the COVID-19 pandemic to return to the team, where she currently serves as team captain.
Although Barry has earned a number of individual accolades over the course of her college career, she and her teammates are still in the midst of an NCAA Tournament run. The Gamecocks will face off against Minnesota in the second round of the tournament on Friday at 2 p.m.
Even with the goal record in tow, Barry’s focus remains on the same task – competing for a national championship.
“It’s a special place to play for a reason, and a special school for a reason. That’s really what made me want to come back, and I want to compete with this team for another year,” Barry said. “When I’m scoring goals and we’re winning games, that’s a special feeling, obviously. But I’m just excited to be a part of a team this year that really is hungry to win some games.”
