SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On a cold and chilly night at County University Soccer Stadium, the USC Upstate women's soccer team won their first game of the 2021 season with a 1-0 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday night.
 
"Senior night is always a special night for every class and I was really proud of the way the girls came together today," USC Upstate head coach Tyson John said, "We felt really strong about our gameplan and I think that was one of the best first half's we played all year."
 
In the first half of the match, both teams played a methodical match and moved the ball up and down the field. Although USC Upstate (1-5-1 Big South) did not attempt a shot in the first 45 minutes they held onto the ball for 68 percent of the opening half.
 
Charleston Southern (2-5-1 Big South) attempted seven shots in the first half, but Spartans goalkeeper Haylee Grudzien (York, S.C.) came away with four big stops in the opening half.
 
In the second half, the Buccaneers offense came out aggressive, but the Spartan defense with stood the barrage of shots and held strong. In the 58^th minute of the contest Ashely Finn (Wake Forest, N.C.) picked up a yellow card after an aggressive play in the Spartans attacking third of the pitch. It was just the second yellow card of the season for USC Upstate.
 
Moments after the yellow card Elise Wilcher (Chesapeake Beach, MD) attempted the first shot on goal of the game for the Spartans. It was the breakthrough the Spartans offense needed as they began to press and created more breakaway opportunities.
 
Following an offsides call against Charleston Southern in the 71^st minute of action, the Spartans once again used their transition offense to apply pressure to the Buccaneer defense. In the 77^th minute of the contest, Jane Bossler (Reading, Pa.) found Finn for the game winning goal.
 
The USC Upstate defense then sat back and held their ground in the 18-yard box as they throttled a few shot attempts in the final moments of the game. Grudizen came away with her final save of the night in the 84^th minute of the contest.
 
Match Stats: 
Finn scored her second career goal and her first game winning goal of her career.
Bossler has now recorded a point in three consecutive matches.
Grudzien finished with 5 saves.
Upstate attempted one corner kicks in the game.
Upstate received the first yellow card of the match.
CSU Received one yellow card against Kayla Robinson.
 
Up Next:
USC Upstate will be heading to Boiling Springs, N.C. to face off against Gardner Webb University. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm on Wednesday, April 7. 
 
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