University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
East Tennessee State
Spartans Drop Conference Game to ETSU, 2-1
10/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 7, 2008
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The ETSU Buccaneers were the first to get on the scoreboard in Tuesday night's Conference match up as sophomore, Kelly Brinkman, scored both ETSU goals in a matter of three minutes. The Spartans' tried to form a late comeback with a goal by Kay Knepp in the final minutes, but fell short at County University Soccer Stadium.
Brinkman's first goal of the game came off an assist from junior, Jordan Monty. An Upstate turnover in front of the net allowed Monty to grab the loose ball before passing it to Brinkman, who blasted it beyond Brittany Daughtry into the bottom back corner of the net.
Brinkman's second goal of the game, her third of the season, came directly off a corner kick she took only minutes later. In this case, Daughtry was able to get a finger on it but it wasn't enough as Brinkman's shot sailed over her head into the top right corner, giving the Buccaneers a 2-0 lead with nearly 30 minutes left in the first half.
Upstate was quiet on offense, producing only four shots in the first half and three in the second, compared to ETSU's respective nine and seven. Though the Spartan women battled hard throughout the game, the Buccaneers' displayed stronger and more accurate first touches and offensive attacks than the young Spartans did.
The highlight of the game for Upstate came in the game's final minute. Sophomore midfielder, Kay Knepp, received a cross-field pass from Brandi Manley and translated it into the Spartans' lone goal of the game. Knepp's left-footed shot sailed over Megan Masch's head into the top right corner of the net.
Once again, the Spartans' late comeback was not enough. The goal was the first of Knepp's career at USC Upstate as she became the seventh player to score a goal this season.
"We came out a little flat today, probably because this was our third game in four days," said head coach, Kendall Reyes. "I think the girls' were tired, which made the game difficult for us. We kept the game close, but we'll have to regroup for Thursday's game."
The Spartans will travel to Campbell University on Thursday for a 7 p.m. game. The Campbell Camels are 2-6-2 on the year and 1-3 in A-Sun play. The Spartans fall to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in A-Sun play.
