BUIES CREEK, N.C. – For the second time this season, USC Upstate and Campbell played to a 1-1 draw in two overtime periods, and the Spartans came out on the right side of the penalty kick shootout to advance to the Big South Championship for the first time.
The Spartans will go on to face top-seeded High Point in the Big South title match Saturday after the Panthers defeated fourth-seeded UNC Asheville 1-0 in overtime tonight.
"It was a good night for the boys. I think when we started in the first half, you could tell this was a team that was playing in the semifinals of a conference tournament for the first time. They came out playing like they were scared to make mistakes, but as the first half went on, they really grew to the game. The boys really stepped up in the second half and started dominating possession and putting on the pressure. Overall, I think the guys deserved the win tonight, so I'm thrilled for them," said head coach and Big South Coach of the Year Scott Halkett.
Julian Fernandez defended a couple of early Campbell opportunities, and then Pol Monells drove in for Upstate's first offensive chance of the match 13 minutes in, but the opportunity was broken up by a Campbell defender. A diving save from Baeza at the 12:44 mark kept the sheet clean, but Campbell would strike low to the right for the first goal of the game at 15:28.
Monells broke through for Upstate's first shot of the game just a couple of minutes later, and then in the 26th minute, Javier Torres connected for a hard strike from the top left of the box, but it was secured by the Campbell keeper.
The Spartans were outshot 8-3 in the first frame, though all three shots reached target while just three of Campbell's shots were on goal.
An energized Spartan team took the field in the second half. Jeremy Montero applied pressure right off the kickoff and Mario Arrocha was able to strip the ball away from the Campbell attacker. He went on to beat two Campbell defenders for the equalizer and his third goal of the season 11 seconds into the frame.
Upstate outshot Campbell 8-2 in the second half, and after a Spartan corner kick with the seconds winding down in regulation, Torres sent a solid shot to the left for a chance to win the match, but the ball was cleared out, and the match would head to extra time.
In the last minute of the first overtime period, Campbell headed a ball high off a corner kick to send the match into the second overtime period.
Arrocha sailed a shot high in the 104th minute, and about a minute later, a Campbell shot was deflected by Baeza up off the cross bar and headed out by Elias Ehlin. Upstate continued the pressure however as a shot by Orion McHugh was blocked at 107:47 before Monells sailed a shot wide right. Monells had a chance to end it with a free kick in the final two seconds, but could not convert.
All four Spartans – Pascal Corvino, Filippo Censini, Pol Monells, and Alex Ljusberg – converted on their penalty kick attempts, and Franck Momo and Diego Konincks converted on the first two Campbell attempts. However, Tyler Young and Sami Charaf Amal missed the net on each of their attempts as Upstate took advantage of the shootout 4-2 to advance to the final title match.
Scoring Summary
15' – Campbell – Owen Mikoy (Diego Konincks, Sami Charaf Amal)
45' – Upstate – Mario Arrocha
Card Summary
39' – Upstate – Pol Monells
69' – Campbell – Diego Konincks
UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will face top-seeded High Point in the Big South Championship on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Spartans Win Today, You Save Tomorrow!
Save 50% off online orders at Papa John's locations across the Upstate. Use the code USCUP50 when placing online orders the day after Upstate victories. Also tomorrow, visit The Beacon Drive-In located in Spartanburg and show the win graphic posted to the @UpstateSpartans Instagram account to claim a free sweet tea as part of the "Sweet Taste of Victory" promotion. No purchase necessary.
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