The teams tied, 1-1, in penalty kicks through the first four for each team, Chelsea Drennan netted the ball that would advance the Gamecocks to the Sweet 16 vs. the winner of Colorado/No. 6 North Carolina.
Seattle U leading in shots, 3-0, through the first 15 minutes of the game, Julia Moravec (Spokane, Wash.) had the Redhawks’ best early scoring opportunity in the 13th minute on a deflected shot resulting in SU’s first of two straight corner kicks. Stephanie Verdoia’s (Salt Lake City, Utah) shot in the 36th minute gave the Redhawks another good opportunity, going just wide left of the net.
Brianna Smallidge (Port Orchard, Wash.) came up with a game-saving save in the 28th minute as Drennan tried to chip the ball over Smallidge’s head.
Taylor Ritzman (Holladay, Utah) had one of SU’s best second half chances on a blocked shot in the 61st minute between back-to-back Redhawk corner kicks.
Seattle U continued to hold the game scoreless coming up with back-to-back saves off a Gamecock corner kick in the 80th minute. Smallidge earned the first save while Kiana Kraft (Kent, Wash.) made the key second save.
South Carolina’s Raina Johnson had the Gamecocks’ best chance of the second half in the 86th minute on the second of two straight USC shots, but the shot went just high over the net.
Kraft contributed on the offensive end in the first overtime, her shot sailing just over the crossbar in the 97th minute for Seattle U’s best chance of the first overtime period.
Verdoia led the Redhawks with three shots, two on goal, as shots remained nearly equal, USC leading, 15-12, in the category.
In goal, Smallidge made six saves while South Carolina’s Abbey Crider made three.
The careers of six Redhawks come to a close with this match as Verdoia, Alyssa Campagna (Las Vegas, Nev.), Jacqui Wallis (Lake Oswego, Ore.), Ritzman, Aris Coover (Bellevue, Wash.), Renae Russell (Lake Forest, Calif.) will graduate following this year.
Seattle U closes the 2014 season after winning their second straight Western Athletic Conference tournament title and making their first NCAA DI Tournament Second Round appearance after defeating Washington State, 2-1, in double overtime of the First Round.
Fans are still encouraged to vote for Verdoia for the Senior CLASS Award through Monday, Nov. 24 once per day per device at www.seniorCLASSaward.com.