Oregon State Women's Soccer Preview - Beavers Open Season Against South Carolina

Oregon State Women's Soccer starts their season tonight, with the Beavers in Columbia to take on South Carolina. Expectations aren't high for this season of Oregon State Soccer, with the team picked to finish last in the Pac-12 in the preseason poll, but the Beavers can always surprise you. Here's what to expect from the Gamecocks.

This will be a homecoming for Oregon State head coach Caroline Kelly, who played for South Carolina for one season during her college career. She also started her coaching career with the Gamecocks, spending a year as a graduate assistant with the program.

Last year the Southeastern Conference was one of the most competitive in the country, and South Carolina's seventh place finish in the conference standings was enough to get them to the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks fell to Wake Forest in the first round, but South Carolina expects to be back this year.

The SEC media seems to agree with them to a point. The Gamecocks were picked to finish sixth in the conference in the SEC's preseason poll, which should be good enough for them to make a case for an at large bid. Of course, South Carolina would like to take a step forward this season.

Can they? On paper this looks like a team that will go as far as their defense carries them. Goalkeeper Christina Tsaousis will begin her third season as South Carolina's starter and should remain one of the best goalies in the conference. Taylor Bloom and Reagan Schubach give the Gamecocks a veteran pair of defenders who will make it difficult for the Beavers to score.

On offense there's a few more questions for South Carolina. Last year Katie Shea Collins led the Gamecocks with ten goals and five assists, but she's transferred to Duke. Mackenzie Johnson, who was second on South Carolina in goals and assists as a freshman last season, has the chance to emerge as one of the SEC's most dangerous scoring threats, but there will be a period of adjustment.

In addition to Johnson, the Gamecocks picked up former Saint Mary's Gael Sydney Middaugh in the transfer portal. Middaugh made the West Coast Conference's First Team last year, and gives the Gamecocks another major scoring threat at forward. Midfielder Cuyler Zulauf will also be a major part of South Carolina's offense, having scored six goals last season.

It's going to be a difficult game for the Beavers. Oregon State struggled to score at all last season, and this defense is going to be a tough first test for an offense that is still coming together. The defense is also going to be heavily tested, especially with some uncertainty about who will be in net for the Beavers.

Kickoff for tonight's game is set for 4:00 PM Pacific. The SEC Network+ will carry the game.

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