BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Your Spartans are on a roll now after taking down the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in a rough and tough 2-1 match.

You don't want to look too far ahead by any means, but it's difficult not to when looking at the stats. The last time the USC Upstate Spartans won three matches in a row, it was a part of a four-match run in the Spring of 2021. The Spartans turned that run into their first Big South tournament appearance and subsequently their first Big South conference finals appearance.
As for the last time the Spartans won in Boiling Springs? That same season, by the same score of 2-1.

There are more similarities between that season and this year, including a 2-2 tie vs Campbell, 5 goals scored in a win vs Presbyterian (Spring of 2021's win was 5-1), and a shutout win in Farmville vs Longwood (1-0 in that Spring season).

While a conference championship appearance is appreciated, the 2022 team hopes they're just different enough to find a different result at the end of the season…
 
Game Information
Score: UPST 2 | GWU 1
Team Records: Upstate (5-5-3, 3-1-1 Big South) at Gardner-Webb (6-4-2, 2-1-2 Big South)
Where: Greene-Harbison Stadium| Boiling Springs, N.C.
 
How It Happened
1' – Hopefully you didn't blink at the start of the match. An early foul by the Bulldogs in the first 45 seconds of the match gave the Spartans a penalty try, which Felipe Marty took and sunk, giving Upstate an incredibly early lead.
2' – And as quickly as that lead came, it disappeared just as fast as Gardner-Webb snuck one by Luca Bulfon to tie it all up again
7' – 25' – The game calmed after the quick opener, but it was the Spartans who dominated the pace of play, rattling off 3 shots and 4 corners, but being unable to find the mark.
36' – Then the Spartans broke through again after a beautiful, arcing pass from Jeremy Montero. It could have landed in front of any of the 4 Spartans who had an opportunity in front of the keeper, but it was Brody Williams who blasted it through. Williams got his third goal of the season and his second game-winner.
45' – 68'- The final 45 was streaky, with both teams having long periods of possession and firing off multiple shots in a row. Braiden Hall picked up several good looks during the run and did put one in, but an offsides call wiped it from the board.
70' – 79' – Then it was Gardner-Webb's turn as they kept pressure on the Spartan defense and Luca Bulfon. Upstate managed to keep them off the board and keep the 1 goal lead.
80' – 90' – Neither team registered a shot for the final 10, which gave Upstate the win.
 
Notable
-Upstate is on a 3 game win streak in the Big South, the last time they won three conference matches in a row saw the Spartans make it to the conference championship
-The Spartans found their second win at Gardner-Webb as Big South foes, with their last win in Boiling Springs coming during the conference championship appearance season
-Brody Williams notched his second game-winning goal of the season
-Jeremy Montero has recorded an assist two matches in a row
-Felipe Marty recorded his second goal of the season. The first came on a free kick and tonight's goal came on a penalty kick. He's also recorded an assist on a corner kick.
-Luca Bulfon added 4 saves to his conference leading total of 56.
 
UP Next for The Spartans
Your Spartans hit the road again Wednesday for a pivotal Big South matchup with Gardner-Webb.

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