SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's soccer team will hit the road for the first time in two weeks when they travel to UNC Asheville on Wednesday evening.
 
USC Upstate (3-2-2, 1-0-0 BSC) will be attempting to start 2-0 in conference play for the first time this decade. UNC Asheville (2-7-0, 0-1-0 BSC) and USC Upstate are meeting for the eighth consecutive season dating back to the 2012 season. The Spartans are just 2-5 against the Bulldogs in the Division I era, but USC Upstate is currently on a two game winning streak in the series.
 
The Spartans dominated the game last season against UNC Asheville. Although the final score was only 1-0, USC Upstate outshout the bulldogs 23-1 and registered 11 shots on goal. Logan Pace (Belmont, N.C.) had a stress free night in the goal for the Spartans as she saw just one shot the entire night. Abbie Ellis (Clemmons, N.C.) scored the lone goal of the night on a penalty kick in the 52^nd minute and led the Spartans offense with six total shots.
 
The last time the two squads played in Asheville, USC Upstate came away with a 1-0 victory behind a second half penalty kick by Ellis. Kayla Dean led the team in total shots with four, while Ellis led the team in shots on goal with three in the game. Samantha Munyon recorded five saves in the match to record the clean sheet against UNC Asheville.
 
USC Upstate is coming off a thrilling 1-0 double overtime victory over Hampton on Saturday night. A Stephanie Linton (Odessa, Fla.) glancing headed proved to be the difference maker in the 101^st minute of the game against Hampton. The Spartans and the Pirates played to a stalemate for the majority of the match with USC Upstate holding a 13-9 advantage in total shots in the game.
 
This season the Spartans are led offensively by Ellis and Emma Honis (Ocoee, Fla.). Ellis and Honis are tied for the team lead in goals with three each. Ellis is currently ranked 48^th nationally in game-winning goals with two and Honis is ranked 144^th nationally in shots per game with 2.86. Pace is currently one of the top goalkeepers in the nation ranking 20^th nationally in total saves (51) and 7^th nationally in saves per game. As a defensive unit the Spartans rank 13^th nationally in saves per game with 7.43.
 
UNC Asheville is currently riding a three game losing streak and has been outscored 6-0 over the course of the losing streak. Coming into Wednesday night's matchup the Bulldogs have been outscored 24-3 and they are coming off a 2-0 loss to Campbell on Saturday afternoon.
 
Skyler Chillson is the Bulldogs go to person on the offensive side of the ball, she leads the team in goals scored and points. Bryson Lee is the starting goalkeeper for UNC Asheville and she currently leads the team with 32 saves this season.
 
The game will kick-off at 6 p.m. tomorrow evening, live links to the event can be found at www.upstatespartans.com.
 
Follow USC Upstate Women's soccer on Facebook (UpstateAthletics), Twitter (@UpstateWSoccer), Instagram (@upstatespartans) and YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics).