Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's soccer team scored three unanswered goals and held off a late Liberty charge as the Spartans earned their first win of the season, and the first for head coach Scott Halkett, with a 3-2 victory over the Flames on Saturday afternoon at County University Soccer Stadium.

Upstate improves to 1-3 on the season while Liberty falls to 2-1 overall.

STATS OF THE MATCH

• The Spartans held a 20-6 advantage over the Flames in shots while both teams attempted seven corner kicks.
• Liberty led 8-1 in saves.
• Cam Philpot led Upstate offensively with three points on one goal and one assist, and attempted four shots with three going on-goal.
• The Spartans also received goals from Anson Girone and JR Cozine, while Calon Minors dished out one assist.
• Tresor Mbuyu scored both goals for the Flames and took a team-high three shots.
• Santiago Restrepo earned his first win of the season in goal and recorded one save.
• For Liberty, James Knoebel grabbed eight saves in the contest.

USC UPSTATE GOALS

• Philpot evened the score at 1-1 for Upstate in the 41^st minute scoring right in front of the net off a short pass from Minors for his second goal of the season. (USC Upstate 1, Liberty 1)
• Girone followed Philpot with just three seconds remaining before halftime in the 45^th minute to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead. Philpot made a short pass inside the 18-yard box near side as Girone beat his defender to score. (USC Upstate 2, Liberty 1)
• Cozine netted his first career goal in the 76^th minute to extend Upstate's lead to 3-1. Cozine gained possession of the ball near side after a long cross and scored between several defenders inside the 18-yard box. (USC Upstate 3, Liberty 1)

LIBERTY GOALS

• Mbuyu gave the Flames an early 1-0 lead in the 11^th minute of play after a cross far side by Bobby Bynum. Bynum's cross made it over the Spartan defense and Mbuyu ran past his defender and headed the ball by Restrepo. (USC Upstate 0, Liberty 1)
• Mbuyu cut Upstate's lead down to 3-2 in the 83^rd minute with his second goal of the match. Matthew Zaczyck placed his cross over to Mbuyu who took a quick shot and scored into the top-right corner of the net. (USC Upstate 3, Liberty 2)

UP NEXT

• Upstate returns to action on Saturday, September 9 when it hosts crosstown rival Wofford at 7 p.m.

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