ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Looking to start a new shutout streak and seeking a second win in Big South Conference play, USC Upstate women's soccer fought valiantly towards accomplishing its goal, falling minutes shy of its fourth shutout of the season Wednesday night.
The Spartans withstood 15 UNC Asheville shot attempts in the double-overtime match, blocking two of the Bulldog shot attempts while sophomore goalkeeper
Cora Brendle corralled six saves in the match. Unfortunately, Upstate's bid for the shutout fell short as Asheville scored the match-winning goal in the 104
th minute in the third consecutive double-overtime match in the series.
Offensively, Upstate found itself with double-digit shot attempts for the first time in conference play, taking 13 shots in the match with four shots finding their way on frame. The Spartans also earned five corner kicks in the match, including four corners taken in the first half.
Game Information
Score: UNC Asheville 1, USC Upstate 0 (2OT)
Records: USC Upstate (3-5-1; 1-2-0 Big South); UNC Asheville (3-7-1; 2-1-0 Big South)
Location: Greenwood Soccer Field | Asheville, N.C.
How It Happened
- 19' – Off a free kick from outside the 18-yard box, Asheville's Anna Doane curled a shot around the Upstate wall sending Spartan keeper Cora Brendle diving to her right for the save.
- 32' – Firing a ball back into the box from the extreme left of the 18-yard box, the Bulldogs' Taylor Gardner pushed the ball toward the upper 90 on the back post with Brendle giving full extension for the save.
- 35' – Upstate got its first great look on goal as midfielder Raegan Meyer won a through ball between three Asheville defenders to earn a one-on-one opportunity with Bulldog keeper Courtney O'Malley who reacted quickly to the ball for the save.
- 36' – The Spartans appeared to get on the board first in the match as midfielder Nora Vangnes delivered a cross into the box that forward Rachel Satchell laid back for forward Campbell Gibson to fire a shot. The shot found a piece of Meyer and deflected into goal for the presumed score before it was determined Meyer was in an offside position, thus negating the goal.
- 43' – Off a well-delivered through ball from midfielder Ellie Arnold, Campbell earned Upstate's second one-on-one opportunity with O'Malley who again reacted quickly, serving up a kick save to keep the match tied.
- 67' – Asheville's Gardner fired a shot from the top of the box as Brendle leaped to her right to go up and collect the save.
- 102' – Playing the ball from outside the 18-yard box on the left side, Spartan defender Jacqueline Marshall delivered a shot near post, scooped up by O'Malley.
- 103' – Off a set-piece, Vangsnes delivered a cross into the six-yard box that was mishandled by O'Malley causing the ball to jostle around the goal line before being cleared and falling out for a goal kick.
- 104' – Slipping past a Spartan tackle attempt and dribbling in the box, Asheville's Kaiya Boyd delivered a pass to the top of the six-yard box, finding Gardner who surreptitiously redirected the ball into the net for the golden goal.
Notable
- With six saves Wednesday night, Cora Brendle has collected five or more saves in each of her seven matches in 2021 and has corralled at least six saves in each of Upstate's three Big South contests.
- With a shot attempt in the second overtime, Jacqueline Marshall placed a shot on goal for the second consecutive match, doing so in consecutive matches for the first time in her career. With three shot attempts in 2021, she's delivered each of her three career shots on target.
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