Sept. 19, 2009

Box Score

High Point, N.C. - For the fifth time in five games this season, the USC Upstate men's soccer team played a game decided by one goal. Unfortunately for the Spartans, High Point scored a goal midway through the first half and held on for a 1-0 victory Saturday night at Vert Stadium.

Upstate fell to 1-4-0 on the season with all four losses coming by a goal. The Spartans will play host to Georgia Southern Wednesday night at 7:00 at County University Soccer Stadium. High Point improved to 4-2-0 and snapped a two-game losing streak.

"This is the best we have played offensively this season," said Upstate head coach Greg Hooks. "At times out inexperience showed. We had five or six new players on the field nearly all the time and these types of games are good learning experiences. We are disappointed in the loss, but we have made great strides. It was an intense game against a good program."

After the teams traded offensive opportunities early in the first half, High Point cracked the scoreboard in the 24th minute. Shawn Sloan took a pass from Matt Tuttle and found the back of the net to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. The goal would eventually be the game winner.

Upstate nearly tied the game just 26 seconds later when Isaiah Ferguson's shot hit the crossbar and High Point was able to clear the threat. The crossbar was again unkind to the Spartans just before halftime as Nick Buxton's shot found the bar with 11 seconds to play in the half. High Point took its 1-0 lead into halftime having outshot Upstate, 11-8.

The second half opened with Upstate and High Point trading shots but neither being able to put the ball in the net. The Spartans then caught a break when High Point's Will Stewart was issued a yellow card in the 66th minute. The Panthers were faced with playing a man down for the rest of the game, the better part of 24 minutes.

Upstate took advantage and pressured the High Point defense. However, the Panthers did a solid job of limiting Upstate's scoring opportunities with the Spartans able to get off just four shots in the final 24 minutes. In fact, the four shots were either wide of the goal or blocked by a High Point defender. The solid defensive effort allowed the Panthers to hold on for the victory.

High Point finished the game with 19 shots, edging out Upstate by four with the Spartans taking 15 on the night. Neither team was particularly accurate with its shots. High Point placed just six of its 19 shots on goal, while Upstate placed two of its shots on target. Upstate goalkeeper Pat Regna recorded a game-high five saves to lead the Spartans.