ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA — The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team earned a 2-1 road victory over South Carolina State in a midweek non-conference matchup on Wednesday evening.
The win moves the Sand Sharks to 9-2-2 on the season, while SC State drops to 2-12.
"It was good to bounce back against a really difficult Division 1 opponent" stated head coach Gary Boughton.
In a match with a lot of defense and limited offensive opportunities, the Sand Sharks made the most of their chances. Maggie Olsen scored both goals for USCB, the only two shots registered by the team all night, and each came unassisted. Graysen Asher and Ciazia Powe combined for three saves to help secure the win.
"We had to be patient and find ways to break down a really tough block, so it was nice to see some players confidently move the ball under pressure tonight" said Gary Boughton.
The match began as a defensive standoff, with neither side recording a shot until the 32nd minute. SC State's Taryn Campbell tested the USCB defense first, but Ciazia Powe came up with the save to keep the game scoreless.
Just one minute later, Maggie Olsen struck first. After a Sand Shark throw-in, she found the back of the net with a strong shot to the upper-right corner, giving USCB a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute.
At halftime, the Sand Sharks led 1-0, with each team managing only one shot in the first 45 minutes.
SC State had the early momentum in the second half, forcing a save from Graysen Asher just seven minutes in. But USCB responded quickly. In the 54th minute, Maggie Olsen added her second goal of the night, and of the season, with another well-placed strike, this time to the upper-left corner, extending the lead to 2-0.
Asher made her second save in the 67th minute to hold the two-goal cushion. However, SC State cut the lead in half in the 78th minute, when Dejanae Butler scored off an assist from Kayla Moses, making it 2-1.
The Sand Shark defense held firm in the final minutes, preventing any further shots and securing the road victory over SC State.
USCB returns to action on Saturday afternoon for a conference matchup against Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, with the start time scheduled for 1:00 PM.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
