COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 14th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks netted four first-half goals en route to a 5-0 victory over Furman in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship on Friday night at Stone Stadium in Columbia, S.C.

The Gamecocks improved to 17-3-2 on the season and advanced to next weekend’s second round, while Furman finished its 2013 season at 17-4-2.

Taylor Leach put the Gamecocks in front in the 15th minute with her third goal of the season. Gabrielle Gilbert headed Chelsea Drennan’s corner kick back across the face of goal and Leach punched the shot into the net in traffic to give South Carolina a 1-0 lead.

Less than five minutes later, goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo played a long ball to Danielle Au, who touched the ball to Raina Johnson for a one-timer from 16 yards that beat Paladin goalkeeper Rose Hull at 18:51.

The Gamecocks increased the margin to 3-0 in the 28th minute on the first of two goals from Coryn Bajema. Daija Griffin played a ball to Elizabeth Sinclair off of a corner kick before Bajema finished. In the 35th minute, Bajema took a pass from Drennan and drilled a shot inside the far post to give South Carolina a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.

Sophie Groff capped the scoring in the 63 minute, taking a pass from Au before tucking a shot inside the left post for her third goal of the season.

South Carolina outshot the Paladins 12-4 and managed an 8-1 edge in shots on goal.

D’Angelo made one save in goal to earn the shutout for the Gamecocks. Hull turned away three shots in a losing effort.

The loss marked just the third time this season that the Paladins allowed more than one goal.