SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Leading off its final homestand of the season—the first of three home matches to close the regular season—USC Upstate women's soccer honored its seniors prior to Saturday's match in front of one of the largest and loudest crowds at County University Soccer Stadium this season.
The Spartans honored senior defender
Jacqueline Marshall and senior forward
Madison Pollard before Wednesday's match versus Gardner-Webb with a pre-match ceremony.
On the pitch, Upstate and Gardner-Webb were evenly matched, hitting the half tied while finishing the match with the same number of shots (16) and a similar amount of corner kicks—six for the Runnin' Bulldogs and five for the Spartans. However, it was Gardner-Webb that used its advantage in shots on goal to net three second-half goals to claim victory.
Game Information
Score: Gardner-Webb 3, USC Upstate 0
Records: USC Upstate (5-8-1; 3-5-0 Big South); Gardner-Webb (7-11-0; 4-5-0 Big South)
Location: County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
How It Happened
- 5' – Winning the ball back in the midfield, junior midfielder Jane Bossler delivered a quick flick to sophomore midfielder Reagan Meyer who dribbled her way into Gardner-Webb's defensive third before giving way to junior forward Campbell Gibson. Gibson turned and fired a shot from the top of the box that was blocked before freshman forward Katherine Cunningham bent a shot between two defenders toward the back post where Runnin' Bulldog keeper Katelyn Kellogg was waiting.
- 18' – Working on the counterattack, sophomore midfielder Ellie Arnold looked to flip the field for Bossler who delivered Upstate's best scoring opportunity as her shot from roughly 25 yards caught the crossbar as Kellogg was late on her leaping save attempt.
- 27' – Taking a free kick from her team's offensive end, Gardner-Webb's Marina Bradic delivered a ball to the back post that clanged around before Ayse Demirci offered a shot attempt with Upstate's sophomore goalie Cora Brendle making the save, clutching the ball in a mass of bodies.
- 44' – Firing a shot from just outside the left edge of the six-yard box, Gardner-Webb's Maddie Turlington was stonewalled as Brendle saved the rocket shot by sacrificing her body to ensure the game entered the half in 0-0 deadlock.
- 47' – Standing strong against a Runnin' Bulldog attacker that had slipped the Upstate defense on the end line, Brendle with assistance from sophomore defender Martina Cordova Ulloa thwarted the Gardner-Webb attack. However, the Runnin' Bulldog's maintained possession as Alisha Holcombe delivered a cross to the back post for Livi Tanzer who maintained position onside long enough to send home the goal.
- 50' – Scoring in similar fashion to its first goal, Gardner-Webb saw another Tanzer goal off a Holcombe cross as Tanzer contorted her body around a pair of defenders to get her right foot on the ball to net the goal.
- 78' – Being fouled from behind in the box, Gardner-Webb's Turlington took to the penalty spot, sending her attempt toward the left post, narrowly beating a diving Brendle for the PK goal.
Notable
- Collecting 10 saves Wednesday night, Cora Brendle secured her fourth double-figure save match of the season. The match also marked the fifth such match of her career.
- On senior night, Jacqueline Marshall delivered her fifth complete match of the season, the 25th of her three-season Upstate career.
- Fellow senior Madison Pollard played 50 minutes in the match, her second straight match with 50 or more minutes played.
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