BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Four members of the No. 14 South Carolina women's soccer team have been named to the Southeastern Conference Preseason Watch List, the league announced Tuesday.
Beginning in 2011, the SEC began naming the watch list in lieu of announcing all-conference teams. Senior goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, senior defender Taylor Leach, sophomore midfielder Chelsea Drennan and freshman midfielder Savannah McCaskill were each named to the list.
Making her fourth appearance on the SEC watch list, D’Angelo is set to anchor the South Carolina defense for the fourth straight season. A two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, D’Angelo posted one of the top seasons for a keeper in South Carolina history last season, tallying 12 shutouts and posting a 0.59 goals against average. She was the program’s first MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist last year and is one of four semifinalists from last season to be named to the 2014 Hermann Trophy Watch List.
A 2013 first team All-SEC defender, Leach captained the top defense in the SEC last season. The center back was a key component of the defensive effort that allowed the SEC’s fewest goals (11), points (30) and shots on goal (57) in the regular season. Leach also scored two game-winners last year, including the winning strike in a 2-1 overtime thriller at then-No. 8 Florida.
Last season, Drennan was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after setting a school freshman season record with 12 assists, just one shy of the overall program single-season record. The midfielder tied the program record for most assists in a game with three, recording each in the first 16 minutes in a win over Vanderbilt.
The Gamecocks hope to see an immediate impact from freshman Savannah McCaskill in the midfield. A Chapin, S.C., native, McCaskill was rated a four-star prospect and ranked No. 51 nationally by Top Drawer Soccer.
The Gamecocks began practice last week to prep for an exhibition match at Duke on Thurs., Aug. 14. After opening the regular season on the road at East Carolina Fri., Aug. 22, South Carolina kicks off its home slate against Samford on Sun., Aug. 24.
