COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sophomore Danielle Au scored two goals in the opening 20 minutes and senior Kayla Grimsley tied the program mark for single-game assists to lead South Carolina to a decisive 4-1 victory against Alabama Friday night at Stone Stadium. The win improves South Carolina to 9-5-0 (3-2-0 SEC) while Alabama moves to 6-5-2 (1-3-1 SEC).

Au scored in the 10^th and 19^th minutes for the first multi-goal game of her career to notch her first goals since hitting the game-winner at Clemson. Kortney Rhoades added a third goal in the 25^th minute and Lolly Holland scored off a penalty kick in the 84^th for South Carolina’s third four-goal performance of the season. Alabama’s Theresa Diederich spoiled the shutout with a penalty kick in the 73^rd minute.

Grimsley tied the program record for single-game assists after connecting on all three of South Carolina’s first half goals. It is the fourth time a player has earned three assists in a game, and she is just the third player to do so. Mindy Sanders twice earned three assists after doing it one week apart in the 1999 season (Sept. 19 and Sept. 26), and Happy Payne earned three assists on Sept. 13, 1996. With her three assists, Grimsley moves into a tie for fifth on the NCAA active list for career points at 106.

Maria Petroni and Ellen Fahey also were attributed with assists in the match. Freshman Sabrina D’Angelo earned the win in goal with two saves with the only goal allowed being the second half penalty kick.

For the third consecutive match, South Carolina limited their opponent to four shots on goal or less after Alabama was able to get just three shots on frame.

Au put the Gamecocks ahead at 9:03 after Grimsley sent a thru ball into the box that Petroni tapped over for the one-touch shot to the far post. Nine minutes later, Au added her second tally at 18:41 when Grimsley and Fahey both headed balls into the penalty area that Au volleyed into the net. South Carolina added a third at 24:12 when Rhoades volleyed a shot in front of the net that was sent to her by Grimsley.

The three goals scored in the first half were the most for Carolina in an SEC match since the team scored four in the first half and three in the second half against Mississippi State last season (Oct. 3, 2010).

The Crimson Tide were able to get on the board at 72:22 with a penalty kick given when a player was taken down from behind in the box. Diederich placed her shot into the upper right corner of the net for the score. The Gamecocks added their own penalty kick goal 11 minutes later at 83:11 when Holland was pulled down in the box. The senior stepped to the spot and buried her penalty kick for the final tally.

South Carolina returns to action Sunday when the team takes on No. 22 Auburn at Stone Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. in a fixture that will air live on CSS and ESPN3.com.

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