Sept. 28, 2008

Box Score

Spartanburg, S.C. - Presbyterian scored two first half goals to gain control of the game as the Blue Hose took a 3-1 victory over USC Upstate in non-conference men's soccer action Sunday afternoon at County University Soccer Stadium.

Presbyterian won its second game of the season, improving to 2-6-1 on the year. Upstate fell to 1-7-0 on the year. The Spartans will return to action Friday in their A-Sun opener against Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m. at County University Soccer Stadium.

Presbyterian did not take long to get into the scoring column. Paul Jackson played a cross to eight yards out on the left side of the box where Stevenson Gravlee put home the header past Upstate keeper Patrick Regna to give the Blue Hose a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.

Presbyterian made it a 2-0 lead in the 30th minute when Michael Czulinski played a cross to Sam Eastridge on the left side of the box. Eastridge played a header towards the goal that sailed past Regna, hitting the bar. However, it hit at such an angle that the ball bounced over the goal line for the goal.

Upstate cut into the lead in the 60th minute when Erkan Yildirim took on two defenders on the left side of the box, beat them both, and placed a shot into the net just to the right of PC keeper Andrew Brandt. However, PC responded quickly, scoring 55 seconds later when Davis Orders gained control of a ball 12 yards out and placed a shot into the net to give the Blue Hose another two-goal advantage at 3-1.

Presbyterian did a solid job of playing the final 23 minutes a man down after Jonathan Edmonds was issued a red card. However, Upstate could not capitalize on playing with a man advantage as Presbyterian held on for the 3-1 win.