5 day countdown to the first match of Spring soccer by highlighting each of our new players.
Feb 25 Tue #6 Shae O’Rourke (Texas A&M Transfer)
Feb 26 Wed #9 Anaiyah Robinson (Arkansas Transfer)
Feb 27 Thur #22 Kylee Simmons (Missouri Transfer)
Feb 28 Fri #14 Milee Zych (Freshman)
Mar 01 Sat #35 Morgan Weaver (Freshman)
#6 Shae O'Rourke
Forward
Redshirt Junior
Wheatfield, NY
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Early life
O'Rourke grew up in Wheatfield, New York, the youngest of three daughters born to Terry and Barb O'Rourke. She began playing soccer at a young age with her sister and her mother, who played collegiately at Niagara. Her father played hockey at Niagara, and O'Rourke played that and other sports growing up including volleyball and basketball. She joined Western New York Flash at age seven or eight, going on to earn two-time ECNL all-conference honors.She was a standout player at St. Mary's High School, setting a school record with 135 goals, the first player to pass the 100-goal mark, and leading them to two Monsignor Martin Athletic Association championships.She was named first-team all-state four times, the New York Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020, and United Soccer Coaches All-American in 2021.She committed to South Carolina as a freshman.
College career
O'Rourke scored 6 goals with 3 assists in her freshman season with the
South Carolina Gamecocks in 2022. She was the team's second-leading scorer behind
Catherine Barry, despite starting only 4 of her 24 appearances, and earned
Southeastern Conference all-freshman honors.She averaged just under 45 minutes per game in the postseason as South Carolina won the
SEC tournament and advanced to the round of 16 in the
NCAA tournament.O'Rourke started all 21 games in her sophomore season in 2023, scoring 5 goals and adding 3 assists, again second in points to Barry.
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O'Rourke transferred to the
Texas A&M Aggies for her junior season but
tore her ACL during spring training, forcing her to miss the entire 2024 season.
She then transferred to the
Tennessee Volunteers for her senior season in 2025.
International career
O'Rourke was invited to virtual training with the
United States under-17 team in 2021.She was called up to the
under-20 team in April 2024, scoring in a friendly against
Canada.
Shae is #17
Honors and awards
South Carolina Gamecocks
Individual
- SEC all-freshman team: 2022