Three Second Half Goals Doom Spartans
9/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 21, 2007
Newberry, S.C. - USC Upstate took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but Newberry scored three goals in the second half to take a 3-1 victory over the Spartans Friday afternoon in non-conference men's soccer action.
Upstate falls to 0-5-0 on the season, while Newberry improves to 5-3-0. The Spartans play their home opener Sunday afternoon at 3:00 against Georgia State at the County University Soccer Stadium.
After playing nearly all of the first half without a goal, Upstate broke through in the 41st minute. Alex Garcez dribbled up the right side of the field and played an accurate cross to Chad McCoy who put the shot away for a 1-0 Spartan lead. It marked McCoy's first goal of the season.
Newberry came out in the second half determined to turn the tide. Kyle Rudder played a cross from the left side to the far post where Kwame Gyamfi headed the ball into the back of the net to tie the match at 1-1 in the 51st minute. Just three minutes later, the Indians took the lead for good. Shane Abbott took off on a long run up the right side and played a long pass to Debola Ogunseye who lifted a shot over Upstate keeper Jason McCabe and into the net for a 2-1 Newberry lead.
With Upstate attempting to tie the game and send it into overtime, Newberry had a couple of breakaway opportunities late in the game. Ogunseye got by his defender in the 86th minute and was one-on-one with McCabe who dove for the ball and made contact with Ogunseye. McCabe was issued a yellow card and Ogunseye was awarded a penalty kick. However, he missed the shot and Upstate stayed within striking distance with the score remaining 2-1 in favor of the Indians. In the final minute, though, Edsel Rudder was fouled in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. This time, the Indians converted as Rudder put the shot into the left side of the goal to give Newberry a 3-1 lead with 40 seconds to play.
Newberry out-shot Upstate 20-11 for the game, putting 10 shots on goal to the Spartans' three. McCabe recorded a career-high seven saves, while Newberry keeper Will Dietrich tallied two in the match.
