Box Score (PDF)

Spartanburg, S.C. – North Florida scored a goal less than two minutes into the first half and never looked back on its way to a 3-0 victory over USC Upstate on Senior Day from County University Stadium.

USC Upstate keeper Sarah Plantz finished with eight saves and upped her career total to 316 and needs just 13 more over the final two games to move into the top-10 all-time in A-Sun history.

North Florida grabbed an early 1-0 lead at the 1:40 mark of the first half when Thea Linkfield picked up her fifth goal of the season. Jill Holdsworth sent a through ball from the middle of the field upwards to her left where Linkfield touched the ball ahead and used three dribbles to separate herself from the Upstate defense and fire a shot that beat a diving Plantz far post.

The Ospreys struck again in the 16th minute on a goal from Carolina Lencina that was set up on a cross off the foot of Lauren Hopfensperger. Hopfensperger delivered a cross from the left side of the field that drew Plantz off her line in an attempt to secure the pass. Plantz leapt in the air and got both of her hands on the ball, but was unable to control it in her grip, resulting in a loose ball inside the Upstate box. Lencina found herself in the right place at the right time and just tapped the ball in with the side of her foot to put North Florida up 2-0.

Upstate nearly cut the North Florida lead in half midway through the period on a scoring opportunity started by Ciara Murphy. After maintaining possession by stealing the ball from an Osprey defender, Murphy chipped the ball over the North Florida back line to a streaking Rachel Baylor. Osprey goalie Megan Dorsey sprinted off her post and scooped up the ball seconds before Baylor had the opportunity for a shot.

North Florida tacked on a third goal in the 34th minute on Heather Botelho's second goal of the season. Botelho intercepted an attempted clear from the Upstate defense and used a shot from nearly 30 yards to beat a diving Plantz.

The Spartans came inches away from scoring a goal in the second half on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute. Following a foul inside the Osprey box, senior Rebecca Sanzsole was chosen to take the penalty kick, but her shot hit off the crossbar and back into the field of play. Sanzsole trapped the rebound and put a shot past Dorsey, but the side linesman deemed Upstate offsides and negated the goal.

Dorsey finished with five saves for North Florida.

Prior to the match, Upstate honored seniors Rachel Carr, Erika Kotterer, Sanzsole and Plantz.

USC Upstate returns to action Friday at 7 p.m. when the Spartans travel to Highland Heights, Ky., to face Northern Kentucky.

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