The Gamecocks would make four more attempts but headed out of the half tied 0-0 with Georgia.
In the second half, junior Catherine Barry opened up the scoring for the game after sneaking in a shot past Brown to the right side of the net, putting the Gamecocks on the board 1-0. The goal marked her seventh of the season (most on the team) and the 21st of her career.
53’| CATHERINE BARRY OH MY GOODNESS
We’re up 1️⃣-0️⃣ over the Bulldogs!! pic.twitter.com/GDMcXqvDpk
— Gamecock Women’s Soccer (@GamecockWSoccer) November 4, 2022
South Carolina made two more shots, eventually finding themselves at the other end of the field where a handball call on the Gamecocks’ Abby Hugo set up the Bulldogs for a penalty kick. In the 75th minute, Georgia’s Dani Murguia made the attempt, finding the back left center and tying things up 1-1.
The Gamecocks put up four more chances in the remaining 15 minutes, but couldn’t find the edge, sending the two teams to overtime.
🔥 IN HEATHER HINZ WE TRUST 🔥
What a save from the senior!!
🐔 1 | 1 🐶 pic.twitter.com/FvAH2TOC1V
— Gamecock Women’s Soccer (@GamecockWSoccer) November 4, 2022
Neither side found success through two 10-minute periods despite two chances in the first minute from South Carolina, setting up the Gamecocks and Bulldogs for penalty kicks.
South Carolina stepped up first, and Barry knocked it into the bottom left of the net to tally the Gamecocks’ first on the board. Georgia followed suit with their own from Boyan, tying things at 1-1 after the first round.
In the second round, Jyllissa Harris found the top center to put South Carolina up 2-1. The Bulldogs’ Tori Penn attempted the second kick, but Hinz kept her at bay. Samantha Chang and Camryn Dixon cemented the win for South Carolina after Hinz tallied a second save in the third round to send the Gamecocks to the championship game. The shootout marked the first time South Carolina has taken a penalty shot all season.
🎉 WE’RE HEADED TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP 🎉 pic.twitter.com/n7UaVDPlCX
— Gamecock Women’s Soccer (@GamecockWSoccer) November 4, 2022