LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's soccer team (0-2-2, 0-0 AE) fell to the #15 South Carolina Gamecocks (3-0-1, 0-0 SEC) by a score of 2-0 at Cushing Field on Sunday afternoon.
 
Graduate student Taylor Burgess (Mendon, Mass.) made nine saves on the afternoon while seniors Calliste Brookshire (Kingston, Mass.) and Chloe Layne (Wrentham, Mass.) and freshmen Marissa Sage (Milford, N.H.) and Luka Marceau (Newton, Mass.) each registered a shot on goal.
 
"We went in with nothing to lose and we knew we had the ability to battle with them," said Brookshire. "A couple scrappy goals today, credit to South Carolina, they played well and took their chances, but we'll take a lot out of today. Going forward we have to remind ourselves we can compete with any team, and we're excited to go into the next game."
 
The Gamecocks came out fast and put immediate pressure on the River Hawks back line. The defense stayed compact and communicated well to withstand the early on slot of pressure. Burgess made a brilliant diving save in the 17^th minute, deflecting a shot destined for the top corner out of play to keep the game tied.
 
UMass Lowell had a chance in the 22^nd minute after Laura Cetina played a slick through back in behind the defense for Hope Santaniello to run onto. The junior took her space but saw her shot go over the crossbar.
 
Despite South Carolina dominating possession in the first half, the River Hawks remained poised in defense and kept the visitors off the board. Calliste Brookshire and Santaniello had space to operate on the wings but could not find a real threat on goal.
 
The Gamecocks broke the deadlock in the 38^th minute as Burgess went to clear a ball that deflected off Reagan Schubach and into the net. Freshman Kaitlyn Tung had a chance in the final minute of the half, but the shot went wide, and UMass Lowell went into the break trailing by a goal.
 
Just four minutes into the second half, the Gamecocks had another opportunity on goal after Burgess was beaten one on one, but sophomore Nadja Andersen (Nakskov, Denmark) recovered in time to clear the ball away from danger to keep the deficit at one.
 
In the 68^th minute, South Carolina doubled their advantage on a shot that hit the crossbar and narrowly bounced over the line behind Burgess. After the second goal, the game slowed down and the team's exchanged possession in the final 20 minutes.
 
The River Hawks had a few chances late in the game as Brookshire found space to get two shots off, but the Gamecock defense stood firm and shut the door. South Carolina came away with a 2-0 victory at Cushing Field.
 
Up next, UMass Lowell will visit Stonehill on Thursday, August 31 at Skyhawk Field. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.