Neither team's net was disturbed on Thursday night, as South Carolina's and Clemson's women's soccer teams fought to a 0-0 tie.
South Carolina has been among the most consistent programs in collegiate women’s soccer. The Gamecocks have missed the NCAA Tournament just once since 2007, winning three SEC Tournament championships and taking a trip to the 2017 College Cup along the way.
Despite that high level of consistency, one notable feat has alluded them in recent seasons: beating Clemson.
No matter how successful their rivals have been, the Tigers have picked up points whenever the two teams have met on the pitch. South Carolina’s results against Clemson over the past six years read as follows: loss, loss, loss, tie, tie, tie. The Gamecocks came agonizingly close to ending that run last season, but a 90th-minute goal scored by the Tigers knotted the score at one goal apiece.
Make that four ties in as many years, as No. 12 South Carolina (4-0-1) and Clemson (1-1-2) battled to a 0-0 stalemate Thursday night at Historic Riggs Field.
How it happened
It took some time for both offenses to get going in the early stages of the match. Through 15 minutes, each team had just one corner kick and one shot apiece. None of those shots were on target.
But as the first half reached its midway point, Clemson emerged as the more dangerous team on offense. The Tigers created some frantic moments in front of South Carolina’s goal, but the Gamecocks’ defense thwarted Clemson’s attacks.
One specific incident nearly gave the Tigers an early lead. As South Carolina’s defense attempted to clear the ball, a Clemson player’s shot hit junior midfielder Megan Taitano on the arm. The center referee went to the video monitor to review the play, and he deemed that no handball offense had been committed.
On the other end of the pitch, the Gamecocks’ most dangerous first-half chance was a long-range effort. Junior midfielder Reagan Schubach unleashed a knuckling shot from around 35 yards away from goal, but Clemson’s senior goalkeeper Addy Holgorsen made the save.
The Tigers opened the second half with an offensive burst, which ended in the closest goal-scoring opportunity of the night at that point. Freshman forward Juju Harris, Clemson’s most productive attacker, had a shot that glanced off the post in the 47th minute.
That moment served as a wake-up call for South Carolina. The Gamecocks regained control of a match becoming increasingly chippy, earning four corner kicks in a 13-minute span. But their efforts still did not result in a goal.
South Carolina also had two chances gifted to it by fouls committed just outside Clemson’s 18-yard box. But both of the ensuing shots — by junior midfielder Cuyler Zulauf and freshman midfielder Alexa Pino in the 60th and 69th minutes, respectively — were skied above the crossbar.
The video monitor, which the referee utilized four times on the night, ultimately decided the result. The Tigers had a penalty shout in the 84th minute, but it was ruled that the Gamecocks’ senior defender Gracie Falla didn’t pull Clemson sophomore midfielder Anna Castenfelt in the box. South Carolina had an opportunity to earn a spot kick three minutes later, but the referee upheld the “no penalty” call on the field.
Palmetto Series implications
With the draw, the Gamecocks failed to claim their first point of the 2025-26 Palmetto Series. Clemson maintains a 1-0 advantage in the competition after its men’s soccer team won 4-1 on Tuesday.
The Palmetto Series, sponsored annually by the South Carolina Education Lottery, pits South Carolina and Clemson against each other across all their NCAA Division I-sanctioned sports teams. In each matchup, the winner earns one point towards their overall tally for the academic year. Whichever school finishes with the most points by the end of the spring wins the Palmetto Series.
The Gamecocks will have an opportunity to equal Clemson’s mark on Sunday, when their volleyball team takes on that of the Tigers on Sunday.
The Gamecocks maintain a 6-1 all-time lead in the Palmetto Series. After losing for the first time in 2023, South Carolina stormed back to win 7-4 over Clemson last year.
Next up
The Gamecocks will return to Stone Stadium for the next match on their regular-season schedule. On Sunday, South Carolina will take on Georgia State, with kick-off set for 6 p.m. The match will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.
Visit GamecockCentral’s exclusive Gamecocks-only, no-trolls message board!
Category: General Sports
