Gamecocks ousted on final-second goal

From staff reports

COLUMBIA -- A header by Wake Forest midfielder Bess Harrington in the final second of regulation found the back of the net for a goal as the Demon Deacons defeated South Carolina 1-0 as time expired in the NCAA Third Round at Stone Stadium on the campus of the University of South Carolina.

Wake Forest improved to 16-5-2 and will face the winner of North Carolina-Maryland. USC's record-breaking season ends at 19-4-2 on the year. Friday night's game was played in front of a crowd of 4,347 fans, the largest attended women's soccer match in Stone Stadium history.

Wake outshot USC 15-9 and had an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The game appeared to be extending into overtime, but Harrington was able to find the game-winning goal just as the clock struck zero in the 90th minute of play. The Deacons gained control and possession off a throw-in and created a corner-kick opportunity. With the clock ticking down under 10 seconds, Wake Forest forward Jill Hutchinson soared a perfect ball into the box that found the head of Harrington, who connected with a direct header that went past the Gamecocks' defense and goalkeeper Mollie Patton and into the net just before the buzzer to end regulation. For Harrington, the goal was her second of the season.

The goal capped off an exciting second half that saw both teams playing dead even as each tallied seven shots for the half. After Wake Forest controlled the first 45 minutes, the advantage shifted to the home team in the second half as Carolina opened the stanza with some pressure and scoring opportunities.

Gamecocks forward Brooke Jacobs drove down the right side of the field in the 46th minute and hit a long shot that drifted deep into the box that was saved on line by Wake Forest keeper Amanda Barasha. Lindsay Small had a header in the 51st minute off a free kick that was saved by Barasha. Senior forward Samantha Diaz-Matosas would come close to a goal as Jacobs sailed in a ball that went to the far post and just a couple feet away from the foot of Diaz-Matosas.

Carolina looked to almost have a goal in the 60th and 61st st minute that saw a crazy flurry inside the 6-yard box. Kortney Rhodes would get a shot off that was blocked by a Wake defender. On the play however, the ball would spin towards Gamecocks forward Brooke Jacobs who took a direct shot in on Barasha. The Wake keeper would make a save but could not control the ball, allowing Jacobs an opportunity to get another shot off that went off one of the goalposts.