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Score: South Carolina 6, Kennesaw State 0
Records: South Carolina (7-1-0), Kennesaw State (3-4-1)
Key Players: Ashley Zambetti (season-high eight saves), Maggie Gaughan (one shot, one shot on goal), Ida Hepsoe (one shot)
 
COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the first time this season the Kennesaw State soccer team faced off against a ranked opponent as the Owls fell to No. 17 South Carolina, 6-0, on a clear and calm Monday evening (Sept. 14) at Eugene E. Stone Soccer Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
 
The Gamecocks opened with the match with three goals in the first nine minutes as Sophie Groff started the scoring with a goal in the second minute off of a cross from Carly Ray, before SC netted back-to-back tallies in the fifth and ninth minutes.
 
USC added three goals in the second half to finish with a 6-0 win.  
 
The Owls will next wrap up their fi­ve-game road swing with a final stop in Clarksville, Tenn., as they take on Austin Peay on Friday (Sept. 18) at 8 p.m. ET.
 
Quotables
"We played a very good nationally ranked team tonight and our inexperience showed. We gave up three goals in the first nine minutes, then defended well and did not giving any goals up for the next 36 minutes. There were some individual mistakes in the second half that led to goals, but as long as we have learned from the mistakes and do not repeat them, the game was useful. The team is upbeat and looking forward to getting a couple of players back healthy for next weekend's games."
- Kennesaw State Head Coach Rob King
 
Notes
- Tonight's match marked the first contest this season that the Owls have played against a ranked opponent as South Carolina came in at No. 17 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Coaches Poll.
- The last time the Owls faced a ranked opponent was during the 2013 season when they played at No. 1 North Carolina on Sept. 1. KSU also played against No. 12 Duke that weekend, taking on the Blue Devils on Aug. 30 in Chapel Hill.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Zambetti made her fifth-straight start in front of the net for the Owls and has now played 498 of the Owls' 740 total minutes this season.
- Zambetti tied her season-high with eight saves on the night, equaling her total against College of Charleston on Sept. 4.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State soccer news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 
Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium is the home of women's soccer, women's lacrosse and football, which will play its inaugural season in 2015.