The University of South Carolina women's soccer team will open its 2026 season on Wednesday evening, hosting Oregon State at Stone Stadium in Columbia, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus, giving fans a chance to see the Gamecocks' latest chapter unfold.
Head coach Shelley Smith, now in her 26th year at the helm, brings a wealth of experience that includes 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a three‑decade career as a college head coach. Smith has guided the program through numerous transformations since taking over in 2001.
Last season the Gamecocks finished with a 10‑5‑5 record, posting a 4‑2‑4 mark in SEC play, and climbed as high as No. 8 in the national rankings. Their home games attracted an average of 3,950 spectators, underscoring the strong support the team enjoys in the Palmetto State.
A Familiar Rivalry Rekindled
The roster will look different from a year ago, with standout defender Gracie Falla heading to Lexington SC in the USL Super League for her professional debut and midfielder Katie Shea Collins moving on to Duke. However, the team retains three of its five All‑SEC honorees from the previous campaign, including midfielder Cuyler Zulauf, defender Taylor Bloom and forward Mackenzie Johnson.
Leadership this year will be provided by captains Christina Tsaousis, Zulauf and Maggie Taitano, who together steer a squad composed of six graduates, nine seniors and three juniors. Their blend of experience and youthful energy aims to sustain the program’s momentum.
Adding intrigue, Oregon State’s new head coach is Caroline Kelly, a former Gamecock who played for South Carolina from 2012 to 2015. Kelly’s return to face her alma mater creates a personal storyline that could add extra intensity to the matchup.
Smith says the early-season contest is an opportunity to fine‑tune tactics and build chemistry before conference play, but she also sees it as a stepping stone toward the ultimate goal: reclaiming the SEC championship, a title the program has not captured since 2022, and securing a return to the NCAA Tournament.