Sunday's MatchUP
August 22, 2021 | 3:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (0-0-0) vs. Spartanburg Methodist College (0-0-0)
County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.

Series History
Upstate and Spartanburg Methodist have not met in the regular season. However, the Spartans and Pioneers have met in a pair of exhibition contests, competing against one another in 2011 and 2018.

Last Time Out
Finishing off a pair of victories to close the 2020-21 season, Upstate downed Gardner-Webb in double overtime to secure the program's first victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs since 2013 and secure back-to-back wins to close a season for the first time in program history.

The Spartan's Natalie Loyd opened the scoring in the first minute, firing a shot from the top of the box before Gardner-Webb netted the equalizer 10 minutes later. Upstate goalie Haylee Grudzien withstood a flurry of shots over the final 90 minutes of the match, collecting a career-high-tying seven saves to put Upstate in position for the victory.

Following a Gardner-Webb foul, Upstate's Jane Bossler found Jayna Tyler for the game-winning goal, taking advantage of the team's lone shot attempt in the second overtime.

Ones to Watch
The Spartans return 92 percent of the team's defensive minutes from the 2020-21 spring season with junior Alaina McKnight and fifth-year senior Jacqueline Marshall returning after posting eight and seven complete matches, respectively, last season. McKnight saw all 779 minutes of action last season and has seen all 2,297 minutes played over the last two seasons while Marshall saw 776 minutes of action last season and has seen 2,249 during her Spartan career.

Four of five goal scorers and 14 of the team's 16 points from the 2020-21 spring season return for Upstate in 2021. Junior Jane Bossler and sophomore Ashley Finn led the Spartans with two goals apiece while Bossler added an assist on the game-winner versus Gardner-Webb to total a team-leading six points with Finn pacing the team with 16 shot attempts on the year, eight of which came on goal.

The kickoff of the 2021 season greets 13 newcomers to the Upstate roster. The Spartans welcome 12 freshmen and one transfer for the 2021 season.

UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate continues its season-opening homestand, welcoming The Citadel to County University Soccer Stadium on August 26. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

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