SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate men's soccer is set to face top-seeded High Point University in the program's first-ever Big South Championship Final match on Saturday evening. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Vert Stadium in High Point.
Saturday's Championship MatchUP
Saturday, April 17 | 7:00 p.m. EST
USC Upstate (6-3-2, 6-1-1 Big South) at High Point University (11-1, 8-0 Big South)
Vert Stadium | High Point, N.C.
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
Watch Party Info
The #SpartanArmy is invited to watch the match on the big screen at Fr8Yard located in downtown Spartanburg (125 E. Main St.), or if you're in downtown Greenville, at Charleston Sports Pub (15 W. Washington St.) Saturday from 7-9 p.m. Any additional details or information will be announced on Twitter, @UpstateMSoccer and @UpstateSpartans, as well as our Facebook page (USC Upstate Athletics) and website upstatespartans.com.
Series History
Upstate will be looking for its first win over High Point since joining the Division I ranks in 2008. The Panthers lead the series 5-0-1 in the DI era, and High Point was Upstate's lone conference loss in the regular season. That loss came as a 2-1 decision back on March 27. After getting down to a 2-0 deficit, Pol Monells cut High Point's lead in half on a penalty kick, but the Spartans were unable to find the equalizer.
Last Time Out
The No. 3 Spartans fought to a 1-1 draw against No. 2 Campbell in the semifinal match this past Wednesday, and advanced on a penalty kick shootout. All four Spartans – Pascal Corvino, Filippo Censini, Pol Monells, and Alex Ljusberg – converted on their attempts, and the Camels scored on their first two attempts but missed the net in their final two chances. Campbell held a 1-0 lead going into halftime, but 11 seconds into the second frame, Mario Arrocha swiped the ball off the kickoff and beat two Campbell defenders to break through traffic and net the equalizer.
High Point defeated fourth-seed UNC Asheville 1-0 in overtime in the semifinal match on Wednesday. Neither team could find the breakthrough in the first 90 minutes, but Mason Marcey came out the hero for High Point as he flipped a shot in right under the cross bar in the second minute of overtime to give the Panthers the win.
Ones to Watch
Upstate
- Pol Monells leads the Spartans in all offensive categories, including goals (7), assists (5), and points (19). He also ranks second in the conference in assists, and third in goals and points. The senior forward was recently named Big South First-Team All-Conference.
- Freshman Jeremy Montero is second on the team with five goals, and his 11 points are the second-most by a freshman in Upstate's DI era. Montero earned a spot on the All-Freshman team and Second-Team All-Conference.
- Mario Arrocha's equalizer in the second half against Campbell was his third goal of the season, and he ranks third on the team with three assists and nine points.
High Point
- Goalkeeper Holden Trent played the full time in the 1-0 victory over UNC Asheville. Trent is now tied for fifth in the nation for shutouts with six shutouts in 12 games.
- Big South Offensive Player of the Year MD Myers is tied for second in the nation in goals per game. Myers currently has 12 goals through HPU's 12 games.
UP Next for the Spartans
The winner of this championship matchup will earn the Big South's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and selection day is April 19.
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