FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, dbeall@uscupstate.edu

Box Score (PDF)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's soccer team put together another solid defensive effort on Friday evening, but it was a header from Rachel Carr in the 48th minute that propelled the Spartans to a 1-0 Atlantic Sun Conference victory over visiting Lipscomb at County University Stadium.

Upstate picks up its first league victory of the season, improving to 3-12 overall and 1-5 in the A-Sun, while the Bison remain winless in the conference at 2-9-4 overall and 0-5-2 in the league.

 "Very good performance from start to finish tonight," head coach Abby Minihan said following her team's first A-Sun victory of the year. "Normally we go through some lapses, but this is probably the first game we have played well for a full 90 minutes so I am happy for the girls."

After a defensive dominated first half that saw the two teams attempt just seven shots, the Spartans finally got on the board in the 48th minute when Kayli Moore lined up a free kick from 25 yards out and sailed a serve to the far post. The perfect serve found the head of Carr and the junior finished inside the right post for her first score of the season.

"We work on set pieces all the time, so to actually put one in the back of the net feels really good," Minihan said. "It was perfectly executed so I was excited for them since we spend so much time on them."

The Upstate goal broke a string of 498 consecutive minutes without a goal, dating back to a double overtime game-winner off the foot of Rebecca Sanzsole on Sept. 16.

The defense would take over from there, stopping the Bison offensive attack every step of the way and leading the Spartans to their third victory of the season, all coming via a shutout from the defense.

"They (defense) were focused," Minihan said. "I feel like the score line has not always shown what we are capable of, but this game we were able to hang with their forwards and not make any mistakes for the full 90 minutes."

Sarah Plantz picked up her second victory of the season as she recorded five saves in all 90 minutes of action. Erin Zerio suffered the loss for the Bison, allowing the lone goal of the contest and adding four saves.

The Spartans return to action on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Northern Kentucky to town for Upstate's final home game of the season. Kickoff at County University Stadium is slated for noon.

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