Aug. 25, 2008

Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - In a non-conference season opener between the USC Upstate Spartans and the Charleston Southern Lady Bucs that went down to the final minute, the Spartans battled and earned their first win of the 2008 season with a 2-1 decision. Junior Santana De Freitas and freshman Caitlin Robinson led the Spartans with one goal apiece in a tight contest at the County University Soccer Stadium just in time to beat the rain on Monday night. The Spartan women once again demonstrated their success on their home field.

After completing their first season in the Division I Atlantic Sun Conference with a 3-15 record last year, the Spartans started the 2008 season in a winning fashion. "I am real excited for the girls," Head Coach Kendall Reyes stated. "We have put a lot of hard work into this team since last year."

Though the Spartans were outshot by the Lady Bucs, they illustrated their defensive improvements from last season throughout the game. Junior goalkeeper, Brittany Daughtry, played a solid game in net, making several key saves that enabled the Spartans to keep their lead. Liz Pontillo, Carmen Osorio and Catherine Nolff, all who played the entire game, were essential leaders and solid backbones for the team's defense.

Charleston Southern controlled the ball throughout most of the first half, taking eleven shots and earning four corner kicks. However, the combination of the Lady Bucs being unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities and some unlucky bounces both paved the way for a strong second half by the Spartan team. The Upstate women played a competitive second half, winning more balls and maintaining better control on their possesions. Within the first five minutes of the half, Boiling Springs native, Santana De Freitas, scored the game's first goal on a pass from freshman Caitlin Robinson. Less than fifteen minutes later on a Charleston Southern corner kick, the Lady Bucs evened the score. The ball lingered in front of the net in a huddle of opposing players and a missed shot off the top goal post before filtering out to Forward Sarah Catenacci, who scored the goal.

The game stayed tied at one-one until the ten-minute mark when Upstate had possesion and Caitlin Robinson took a shot from nearly twelve yards out that slowly rolled into the back far post of the net for the potential game winning goal. Both Crystal Ann Hackett and Carmen Osorio were credited with assists.

The game remained incredibly close until the final seconds while Charleston Southern had possession. Catherine Nolff may have saved her team from overtime in a defensive highlight where she slid to send the ball out of play and prevented forward, Michelle Dennis, from a clear shot on goal. The Spartans also withstood a near scare with two minutes left as an offensive shot reflected off the right goal post when goalie, Brittany Daughtry, caught it just before it crossed the goal line. Had Daughtry not been there, the game would have been tied.

Though still young, the Spartans are better prepared for the competition this season. Newcomers Caitlin Robinson, Crystal Ann Hackett, Caitlin Beale and Erin Vavro showed no nerves in their first start of the season as all four freshman demonstrated their potential on the field. Hackett boasted her astonishing speed on one long sprint down the right sideline while Beale almost scored her first goal with a strong shot from the right midfield position.

"I'm excited that we were able to find a way to come out on top when we were put in a corner," Reyes commented on his team's play. "The players came in and battled for 90 mintes. They stayed composed and found a way to win and I'm real excited for them."

The Upstate women's soccer team resumes play on Friday, Aug. 29, when they host the College of Charleston in a 7:30 game after a 5:00 men's soccer game as part of an Upstate double-header at County University Soccer Stadium.