COLUMBIA, S.C. – After earning the program's first-ever Division I era victory over Furman earlier this month, USC Upstate men's soccer claimed another milestone victory Friday night, outlasting South Carolina 1-0 to earn the program's first victory over the Gamecocks.
 
Facing South Carolina for the sixth time on the pitch, the Spartans did not let a 13 to five shot and 10 to two corner kick disadvantages deter them, making the most of one of their two corner kicks by netting one of the team's two shots on goal to grab the 1-0 victory.
 
Off a 51^st-minute corner kick, redshirt junior forward Mario Arrocha delivered a perfect ball to the near post atop the six-yard box as junior defender Hayden Anderson took a well-timed run to drive a header past the Gamecock keeper for his first career goal.
 
Between the pipes, junior goalkeeper Luca Bulfon didn't flinch despite seeing six Gamecock shots on goal, corralling all six shots to earn his second career shutout.
 
How It Happened

• 3' – Working his way around a South Carolina defender, redshirt junior forward Mario Arrocha fired a shot from just the right side that was blocked by a Gamecock defender.
• 6' – Delivering a ball into the box off a corner kick, the Gamecocks headed a shot into the back of the net for an early lead. Fortunately for Upstate, the offside flag was raised negating the goal.
• 10' – Firing a rocket from the top of the box, South Carolina's Kyle Gurrieri found the crossbar, giving the Gamecocks their best look at goal in the first half.
• 25' – South Carolina got another good look at goal in the 25^th minute as Logan Frost headed a shot towards the right post with junior goalkeeper Luca Bulfon diving for the save to keep the Spartans' sheet clean.
• 32' – Taking a shot from just outside the 18-yard box, sophomore forward Alex Ljusberg pushed the shot wide right.
• 51' – Off a well-placed ball from an Arrocha corner, junior defender Hayden Anderson delivered a header from the top of the six-yard box, sending the shot home for his first career goal.
• 82' – Looking to add insurance to a 1-0 Spartan advantage, sophomore midfielder Jimmy James dribble past a host of Gamecock defenders into the box to deliver a left-footed shot that forced the South Carolina defender to make a diving save.
• 83' – Taking a shot from inside the box, South Carolina's Jared Gulden delivered a ball that ping-ponged off several players before trickling harmlessly across the in-line for an Upstate goal kick.
• 85' – The Gamecocks got another late opportunity inside the box as Parker League fired a shot that deflected off a defender to force Bulfon to make a leaping save, pushing the ball over the crossbar high left to preserve his shutout.

 
Notable

• Upstate's victory over South Carolina marks the program's first win over the Gamecocks in program history, entering the match trailing in the all-time series 5-0.
• Scoring the game-winning goal in the 51^st minute, Hayden Anderson netted his first career goal becoming the first Spartan since Javier Torres against Liberty on October 22, 2019, to have his first career goal be a game-winner.
• Collecting six saves Friday night, Luca Bulfon recorded his second career shutout and his second shutout of 2021 as he also kept College of Charleston off the board in a 0-0 draw earlier this month.

 
JOIN UP
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes!  Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!

Keep UP with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateMSoccer @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateMensSoccer @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans