Preview: Wake Forest Women’s Soccer Hosts South Carolina in NCAA Tournament

SB Nation

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-4-4, 4-3-3 ACC) begin their NCAA Tournament campaign at Spry tomorrow night, taking on the South Carolina Gamecocks (10-4-5, 4-2-4 SEC). The Deacs will be looking to replicate

last postseason’s success this year, as, after a loss in the national title game, they are looking to make a push towards the latter rounds again this season. They enter this matchup coming off of a heavy 4-1 defeat in Tallahassee to Florida State that kept them out of the 6-team ACC tournament. The Gamecocks, on the other hand, were among the top 10-15 teams in the nation for most of the season, but an 0-3-1 run to close out their year has them going on the road to Winston-Salem as they look to advance to the second round of the national tournament for the 10th straight time. Most recently, the Gamecocks lost by a 2-0 score to Alabama in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Pensacola. These were two teams with lofty preseason expectations and a ton of talent, and, with no more tomorrows for the loser of this contest, both teams should bring their very best.

Opponent History

The Gamecocks began play under Sue Kelly in 1995. During Kelly’s tenure, which ended following the 2000 season, the Gamecocks posted a 55-57-5 record, appearing in 2 SEC Tournaments and 1 NCAA Tournament. After Kelly’s departure in 2000, the Gamecocks appointed their current head coach, Shelley Smith. Smith had an inauspicious start to her tenure in Columbia, missing out on the NCAA Tournament in each of her first 6 seasons, including 2 sub-.500 finishes. Since then, though, the Gamecocks have reached a new level. Since 2007, South Carolina has only missed 1 NCAA Tournament, winning 3 SEC Regular Season and 3 SEC Tournament Championships in that span, and, in 2017, advancing to a first ever College Cup. In total, Smith has posted a 327-144-72 record at the helm across her 25 seasons in charge, taking the Gamecocks to 18 NCAA Tournaments, 5 national quarterfinals, and 1 College Cup. She has taken a program that was largely pedestrian during its first decade of life and made it into a competitive team at the national level. As for Smith’s track record against the Deacs, it has been a deadlock, as Smith has a 3-3 record against Tony da Luz’s sidez. Their most recent matchup actually came in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 3 years ago, as the Gamecocks dispatched of the Deacs 2-0 in Columbia en route to a Round of 16 appearance during the 2022 season.

Tactics and Breakdown

The Gamecocks typically line up in a narrow diamond 4-4-2 formation, which allows them to clog the central areas of the field and exploit overlaps from their fullbacks and late arriving midfielders. They will typically work the ball inside-0ut, looking to play it up the field to their forwards or more advanced midfielders to draw in defenders and then playing the ball back outside to stretch the defense horizontally. They also will try to stretch opposing teams vertically with their speed, playing long balls in behind to their forwards, but they typically will work the ball outside and cross it back into the area. They are a very dangerous team in the air in general, and they are a team that really takes advantage of their set piece opportunities, scoring a high volume of goals on corner kicks and free kicks this season. Against the ball, they are aggressive and physical, pressing high with their midfielders and forwards and holding a very high line with their defenders, and this has proven to be very effective, with the Gamecocks having kept 10 clean sheets this season. However, they are not without their flaws on that end. Structurally, the 4-4-2 diamond formation leaves teams a bit weak on the flanks, and that has been something that the Gamecocks have struggled with of late, as they have not defended the wide areas particularly well in recent games. They are also a team that has had some issues defending set plays and crosses in their own box, so Wake’s strong wing play and excellent set piece deliveries could both prove to be real issues for this South Carolina side.

Statistically, the Gamecocks’ defensive record jumps off the page. They sit 25th nationally in shutout percentage and 26th in goals against average, and this is because they just don’t give up many shooting opportunities. They average a paltry 3.31 shots on target against per game. For reference, Coastal Carolina sits 336th out of 345 in the country in shots on target per game with a 3.31 average. On the other end of the field, they have been a more inconsistent unit. They sit 109th in the nation in goals per game, and they are not a team that generates a lot of chances, sitting 178th in shots per game and 111th in shot accuracy. It has really been boom or bust for the Gamecocks in the attacking end, with South Carolina having been held off the scoreboard 6 times this season but having scored 2 or more goals 10 times. They come into this game in the midst of a long dry spell, having been held scoreless in their last 281 minutes of play. But, with this Wake team hot having kept a clean sheet since 9/21 against Boston College, the Gamecocks will certainly have some belief that they can break that duck. That being said, with the Deacs’ mid block and more pragmatic tactical approach matching up against an elite SC defense, I expect that this game will be a defensive slugfest where goals will come at a premium.

Players to Watch

For the Gamecocks, the main threat will be forward #4 Katie Shea Collins. Collins has followed up her incredible 13 goal freshman campaign last year with another double-digit scoring season this year, with the sophomore posting 10 goals and 4 assists so far this season. She has blazing speed and deceptive strength, which makes her a tough player for center backs to track down and one that they can’t out-muscle if they do catch up. In addition to her physical attributes, if Collins can get a touch in the penalty area, she will make it count. The Deacs will have to keep her in check to give themselves a shot of winning this game. My other player to watch for the Gamecocks is goalkeeper #71 Christina Tsaousis. Tsaousis has started 13 of the Gamecocks 19 games this season, but, down the stretch, she has locked up her starting position. She is a big keeper with great command of her area, and she is a solid shot stopper as well. Even as South Carolina has struggled of late, Tsaousis has stepped up to keep them alive in games, making 7 saves against Vanderbilt in a 1-0 loss and 3 in their 2-0 loss to Alabama. The Deacs are going to put a lot of crosses into the area throughout this game, so Tsaousis will play a big role in keeping Wake in check in SC’s defensive end.

For the Deacs, the main player to watch in my opinion is midfielder #28 Carly Wilson. The Deacs have really struggled in the middle of the field this season, and, with senior captain defensive midfielder Dempsey Brown very likely out for the rest of the year after a scary injury in the early goings of the Deacs’ match against FSU, they will need other players to step up and take control. Wilson has proven to be a steady veteran presence in the midfield this season, and she has been a key cog in keeping Wake ticking in possession. Without Brown beside her, she will have to take on more responsibilities, both with the ball and against it, so her performance will be critical to Wake advancing on Friday. Winger #18 Allie Flanagan is another player to keep an eye on for the Deacs. The freshman has had a strong first season in Winston-Salem, scoring 5 goals and assisting 1 in her maiden collegiate season. She is a tall, strong, and quick winger with plenty of talent off the dribble, so a narrow formation like South Carolina’s is going to give her an opportunity to use those attributes in plenty of space against isolated defenders. With the health of her wing partner #31 Kylie Maxwell also in question after she missed the Deacs’ final regular season game against FSU, not only is this an opportunity for Flanagan to have a big game, Wake may need her to.