Gamecocks Convert Corners into Smith's 300th Win

South Carolina scored four goals off of corner kicks to control Sunday's match against the Florida Gators. Photo Credits: Ethan Styll

Converting on corner kicks gave The South Carolina Gamecocks’ women’s soccer team all the offense they would need as they defeated The University of Florida’s Gators 4-2 in wet, rainy conditions at Stone Stadium on Sunday. 

USC’s offense got rolling as the Gamecocks won over a corner in the 5th and junior Sutton Jones put the ball in the back of the net with a near post header. However, Florida responded quickly four minutes later when redshirt freshman Nicole Vernis turned a low-driven cross into a goal to knot the match at 1.

The Gamecocks earned another set piece in the 21st minute, when a corner was taken quickly, and after several attempts, the ball came out to redshirt sophomore Samantha Chang who drilled a first time strike and finished in the bottom corner to give South Carolina a 2-1 lead.

South Carolina converted on another corner later in the half as freshman Rylee Forster hit the ball on the half volley into the roof of the net to extend the Gamecock lead to two.

Jones scored a second near post header in the 68th minute off another corner kick to give South Carolina its final goal of the afternoon. The defender credited her teammates with delivering good balls, which allowed her to net two goals.

“Sam [Chang] and [junior midfielder] Jyllissa [Harris] had great services,” Jones said

This marks Shelley Smith’s 300th victory, with 259 coming as head coach at South Carolina. Smith is the 27th Division I coach to reach this milestone

“I forgot about it,” Smith said. “I don’t keep track. I’m not thinking about that at all coming into a game. That is not my focus. You have to focus one game at a time.”