CLEMSON -- Lindsay Browne ran to one of the corner flags Tuesday night and turned to face Riggs Field and celebrate Clemson's second goal in a 3-0 women's soccer victory over South Carolina.
Browne interlocked her fingers behind her head and danced with her elbows in the air as a mob of teammates rushed to congratulate her. The antics were a first for Browne, who said she usually doesn't make a scene after she scores.
"It's fun to just celebrate," Browne said, "and we had been practicing some celebrations at practice, so I was like, 'Tonight I'm going to do it.' "
It was that kind of night for Clemson (6-1), which is ranked No. 9 in the Soccer America poll and continued its domination of the Gamecocks.
Browne led the Tigers with one goal and one assist as Clemson made it clear that an off-season change in coaching staffs at both schools didn't alter the status of the state's biggest collegiate rivalry in this sport.
Before Tuesday, USC had lost four straight games in the series by a combined score of 14-1 when Sue Kelly was coaching the Gamecocks and Ray and Tracey Leone were coaching Clemson. In her first year at USC, Shelley Smith saw her team fall behind 3-0 before halftime against coach Todd Bramble's Tigers.
"We made mistakes by holding back and reacting, not making things happen," Smith said. "We stood around a little too much. I think our players were hesitant because (the Tigers) are so fast."
Clemson's Tricia Williams and Deliah Arrington sandwiched goals off corner kicks around a score by Browne as the more aggressive Tigers exploited the normally stout USC defense.
The Gamecocks (5-2-2) had given up just three goals in eight games before Tuesday, with goalkeeper Carolyn Ortega sporting a 0.25 goals-against average.
After being outshot 11-2 before halftime, USC improved its play in the second half, to the dismay of Bramble. The Gamecocks outshot Clemson 4-3 after the intermission.
"We came out with a great first half tonight, and it was enough to get enough of a lead against a good South Carolina team," Bramble said, "but we're going to have to find a way to string two good halves together."
Katie Carson and Leigh Ann Harrison combined for four saves to record the shutout for Clemson, which has not allowed a goal in 210 minutes. As players from both teams gathered for friendly conversation at the center line after the game, Browne talked about the significance of a victory in the rivalry.
A native of Encinitas, Calif., Browne said the game is the most important of the season for Arrington, the daughter of former Clemson football player Vandell Arrington, and other players from South Carolina. For those players, there could be no greater satisfaction.
"They're a huge rival, and we always want to come out really tough against them and strong, and we did in the first half," Browne said. "We put away all of our chances and played well and came out with a win."
