Upstate Set to Open A-Sun Tournament Wednesday vs. UNF
11/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Spartanburg, S.C. –The USC Upstate men's soccer team caught fire at the end of the regular season and hopes to carry that momentum into action Wednesday when it opens play in the A-Sun Tournament against North Florida at 8:00 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn. The tournament is being hosted by #1 seed Lipscomb.
Upstate needed to make noise as the regular season came to an end and it did just that. The Spartans claimed back-to-back wins over Northern Kentucky and Jacksonville to earn the #5 seed in the tournament, qualifying for the conference championship for the second time since becoming eligible in 2009. The Spartans will face #4 seed North Florida in the first round.
Upstate enters the A-Sun Tournament winners in two of its last three games and battled A-Sun co-champion and #2 seed Florida Gulf Coast to a tough 1-0 loss in Fort Myers, Fla., last weekend. The Spartans boast A-Sun Player of the Year Marvin Schmiege. Schmiege leads the A-Sun with nine goals and will look to lead the Spartans in the tournament.
Fans wishing to attend the A-Sun Tournament can purchase tickets at the gate. Tickets will be $10 for each two-game session on Wednesday and Friday and $15 for the championship match on Sunday. Children are admitted for $5. Lipscomb and the A-Sun will honor all A-Sun students with free admission with a valid A-Sun school ID card.
Fans can follow the action online at upstatespartans.com with links to live stats and video for free, as well as complete postgame coverage. Live updates can be found on Twitter (@UpstateMSoccer).
Spartan Quick Kicks
- Marvin Schmiege ranks 13th in the country with 0.64 goals per game. He also ranks 18th with 1.43 points per game and 28th in total goals.
- Marvin Schmiege tops the A-Sun in goals, goals per game and game-winning goals, while ranking second in points and points per game.
- Jack Rubin tops all A-Sun goalkeepers with 4.11 saves per game.
- Joe Brinckwirth and Leon Scwarzer are tied for fourth in the A-Sun with five assists.
- Upstate ranks 14th in the nation with 5.50 saves per game.
- Marvin Schmiege was named the A-Sun Scholar-Athlete of the Year and has also garnered CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District honors.
