Women's Soccer Set for Citadel/Nike Soccer Classic
8/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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A-Sun Women's Soccer Weekly Notebook
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SPARTANBURG, S.C. - After a pair of home matches against Wofford and Francis Marion last weekend, the USC Upstate women's soccer team is set for a trek across the state as they face The Citadel and Charleston Southern at this weekend's Citadel/Nike Soccer Classic.
The Spartans will open the classic with a match against the Bulldogs on Friday evening at 5 p.m. Each team has claimed one win in the all-time series, with Upstate claiming victory in the most recent meeting, a 2-1 victory in Spartanburg (Sept. 19, 2008).
Following Friday's tilt, the Spartans will battle the Lady Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. CSU leads the all-time series, 3-1, and claimed last season's meeting in Spartanburg by a score of 3-0.
Quick Kicks…
• Kayli Moore notched her first collegiate goal on Sunday afternoon against Francis Marion.
• Sarah Plantz, making her first collegiate start in goal, recorded a career-high nine saves on Sunday against Francis Marion.
• Michelle Calmeyn recorded a hat trick in her first collegiate match. In the exhibition against Spartanburg Methodist, Calmeyn tallied three goals and helped Upstate claim a 4-0 win over the Pioneers.
• Five of the 11 players that started the contest at Gardner-Webb on Sunday night were freshmen. In all, nine rookies saw action against the Runnin' Bulldogs in the season opener.
• After adding 14 new players (12 freshmen) to the squad with her 2010 recruiting class, head coach Renee Lopez again signed another large recruiting class. Coach Lopez's 2011 signing class features 13 new players, 11 of which are freshmen.
• In 2010, Rachel Collins earned Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team honors after leading the conference in both saves (115) and saves per match (6.39), while ranking third in save percentage (.804).
• Last season, Upstate downed Lipscomb and earned draws against Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast to post its highest conference points total since joining the A-Sun in 2007.
Looking Back at Francis Marion
In the 41st-minute, sophomore Kayli Moore scored her first collegiate goal to put the Spartans in front, 1-0. Moore scored after the ball got away from Patriot goalkeeper Lauren Vetock when Michelle Calmeyn took a shot from inside the box. Upstate maintained the lead for more than 48 minutes, but with just 1:34 to play, FMU scored the equalizer as Elizabeth Asare sprinted down the middle of the field beating both the Spartan back line and Upstate keeper Sarah Plantz to tie the match at 1-1. The Spartans and Patriots played a pair of 10-minute overtime sessions with the match ending in a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes.
Plantz recorded nine saves as she made her first collegiate start in goal. FMU led the way in shots (21-10), shots on-goal (10-4) and corner kicks (8-3). The Spartans were called for 15 fouls and one offsides penalty while the Patriots committed seven fouls and two offsides penalties.
Looking Back at Wofford
Upstate allowed two first half goals (19', 25') to the Terriers and were unable to find the back of the net despite having solid chances against its cross-town rival. Michelle Calmeyn had a chance to put the Spartans in front, 1-0, in the 12th-minute, as she beat the Wofford back line and caught goalkeeper Erika Christensen out of the net. However the Spartan rookie's shot from the left side sailed right.
In the 33rd-minute, Katrina Savoy's blast hit the top of the crossbar and bounced away allowing the Terriers to maintain their 2-0 advantage. Wofford tacked on a third and final goal in the 85th-minute, setting the final tally at 3-0.
Career Day
Making her first collegiate start between the pipes, Upstate sophomore Sarah Plantz helped Upstate earn a 1-1 draw against Francis Marion on Sunday afternoon. The Cartersville, Ga., native tallied a career-high nine saves, two of which she deflected over the cross bar to keep the Patriots at bay. Plantz's previous high was six saves, which came in the second half of a 1-0 victory over Morehead State on Sept. 10, 2010.
