Haylee Grudzien The Citadel 2021
Barrett Herring
2
Winner The Citadel CIT (2-0-0, 0-0-0)
0
USC Upstate UPST (1-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
The Citadel CIT
(2-0-0, 0-0-0)
2
Final
0
USC Upstate UPST
(1-1-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
The Citadel CIT 1 1 2
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 0

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Haylee Grudzien's Career-High 10 Saves Headlines Women's Soccer's Strong Second-Half Effort

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Despite facing a pushed start time and a halftime deficit, USC Upstate women's soccer showed a strong second-half fight Thursday evening at County University Soccer Stadium as the Spartans pressure began creating opportunities for their offense.

While The Citadel (2-0-0) outshot Upstate (1-1-0) 27 to 7 in the Bulldogs' 2-0 victory, the Spartans' defensive unit, headed by junior goalkeeper Haylee Grudzien put forth a stellar effort, saving 10 of the 11 shots on goal while the backline blocked five additional shots.

For Grudzien, her 10 saves, spread evenly with five in each half, mark a career-high for the York, S.C. native in her 14th career game in goal. Thursday's match also marks the third straight match against a Division I opponent where she's set, tied, or eclipsed her previous career-best saves total.

Game Information
Score: The Citadel 2, USC Upstate 0
Records: USC Upstate (1-1-0); The Citadel (2-0-0)
Location: County University Soccer Stadium (Spartanburg, S.C.)

How It Happened
  • 24' – The Citadel opened the scoring as Sophie Saldivar played the ball in towards the back post where Megan McLaughlin had slipped past her defender to head the pass home.
  • 53' – Upstate got its best look at goal off a corner kick from freshman midfielder Nora Vangsnes. Playing the ball to the near post, freshman midfielder Claudia Mendinhas leaped and split a pair of Bulldog defenders with a header attempt, pushing the shot just wide.
  • 66' – Following a foul in the box against The Citadel's Jordyn Geller, Suzuka Yosue took to the penalty stripe, burying her attempt in the bottom right corner to give the Bulldogs an insurance goal.
  • 70'/71' – Sophomore forward Ashley Finn of opportunities at goal, getting a head on a set-piece before getting a piece of a through ball for a career-high-tying two shots on goal in the match.
  • 85' – Taking advantage of a free ball and a loose Citadel line following an Upstate clearance, freshman forward Rachel Satchell peppered Bulldog keeper Jess Newton with a left-footed shot in the final minutes as Upstate looked to draw within a goal.

NOTABLE
  • Haylee Grudzien collected a career-high 10 saves in Thursday's match and has collected seven or more saves in each of her last three matches versus Division I competition.
  • With her four total shot attempts, two of which fell on goal, Ashley Finn equaled her career-high in both categories against the Bulldogs.
  • Facing 14 second-half shots, Upstate's defensive unit stood strong, coming away with five saves and two blocks during the final 45 minutes of regulation. The Citadel's lone goal in the half came on a penalty kick.
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