University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Belmont
Belmont Upends Upstate In Music City
10/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 10, 2008
Brentwood, Tenn. - Despite playing one of its better offensive games of the season, the USC Upstate men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Belmont Friday afternoon in A-Sun men's soccer action in a contest played away from Belmont University at Brentwood High School just outside of Nashville.
Belmont improved to 6-4-1 overall and 1-0-1 with four points in the A-Sun. Upstate fell to 1-10-0 overall and 0-3-0 in the league. The Spartans will stay in Nashville to take on Lipscomb Sunday afternoon at 2:30 Central, 3:30 Eastern.
"We had our chances in what I thought was a relatively even game,' said Upstate head coach Greg Hooks. "This was one of our better offensive performances, particularly in the second half. We created opportunities and Erkan (Yildirim) and Hakeem (King) started to play well together. It just seemed like we were just one pass away from being able to finish the opportunities."
Belmont jumped on the board first in the 12th minute. Will Moorad crossed a ball into the box from the left side of the field where Brett Parker headed the ball into the back of the net to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
After the teams battled for a little over six minutes into the second half, Belmont made it a 2-0 lead when the Bruins were awarded a penalty kick after a Bruin player was taken down in the box. Moorad took the free try for the Bruins and was able to beat Upstate goalkeeper Patrick Regna into the net in the 52nd minute.
Upstate battled throughout the second half to get back in the game and cracked the scoreboard with under two minutes to play. After a wild scramble for control of the ball in the Belmont box, Hakeem King gained control and put a shot into the net to cut into the Bruin lead, 2-1. The goal was the first of King's collegiate career. However, the Spartans could get no closer as time ran out on the comeback attempt.
Upstate put together one of its better offensive games of the year. The Spartans took 11 shots on the day with eight shots being placed on goal. Despite being outshot 17-11 for the game, Upstate placed more of its shots on goal than the Bruins, holding the edge 8-6. The Spartans also put pressure on the Belmont defense, finishing the game with four corner kicks to the Bruins' two.
Regna was solid again in the net for Upstate. He finished the day with four saves on the day. Belmont keeper Wesley Wray finished the game with seven saves to help the Bruins' cause.
