Wednesday's MatchUP  
October 26, 2022 | 7:00 p.m. ET  
USC Upstate (9-4-3, 6-2-0 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (9-6-3, 4-3-1 Big South) 
Greene-Harbison Stadium | Boiling Springs, S.C.  
 

How They Stack Up 

USC Upstate sits second in the Big South conference standings with a 6-2-0 conference record and being 9-4-3 overall after beating Winthrop 1-0 on Senior Night on Saturday. Gardner-Webb sits fourth in the Big South with a 4-3-1 conference record, and a 9-6-3 overall record after falling 3-0 to Radford on Saturday. Here is how the Spartans and the Bulldogs compare this season against Big South opponents:    

Upstate vs. Campbell (L, 3-0); Gardner-Webb vs. Campbell (T, 2-2)  

Upstate vs. Radford (W, 2-0); Gardner-Webb vs. Radford (L, 3-0)  

Upstate vs. High Point (W, 1-0); Gardner-Webb vs. High Point (L, 4-0)  

Upstate vs. Presbyterian (W, 1-0); Gardner-Webb vs. Presbyterian (W, 2-1) 

Upstate vs. Longwood (3-1); Gardner-Webb vs. Longwood (W, 2-0) 

Upstate vs. UNC Asheville (W, 2-1); Gardner-Webb vs. UNC Asheville (L, 1-0) 

Upstate vs. Winthrop (W, 1-0); Gardner-Webb vs. Winthrop (W, 3-1) 

Upstate vs. CSU (L, 2-0); Gardner-Webb vs. CSU (W, 5-2) 

 
 
Series History  
The Spartans and the Bulldogs have an extensive series history dating back to 2008 when Upstate played Gardner-Webb for the first time and fell 1-0 at home. Upstate trails the series 2-12-1 overall with a 1-3 record in conference matchups. During their most recent matchup, the Spartans fell 3-0 in Spartanburg.  

Players to Watch 

Alaina McKnight had a stellar week in the Spartans' back line, as she recorded two goals and two shutouts for Upstate. Emily Rangel also notched not only her first career goal but also two assists last week. Emily Sanders recorded three of her five season assists last week as well.  

Russo sits in the Big South rankings for shots (3rd), shots per game (3rd), goals (4th) and goals per game (5th). Sanders also worked her way into the Big South rankings for assists (6th) and assists per game (8th). Brendle continues to sit in the Big South rankings for shutouts (1st), shutouts per game (1st), goals against average (1st), saves (3rd), save percentage (2nd), and saves per game (6th). 

Last Match   

Upstate most recently earned its seventh shutout of the season after beating Winthrop 1-0 on Saturday night. Alaina McKnight celebrated her senior night with her third goal of the season. Emily Sanders and Emily Rangel were both credited with the assists, giving them multiple assists on the week. Cora Brendle played the full 90 minutes in the goal for Upstate, recording three saves on six shots faced as well as earned her fifth solo shutout of the season.  

Gardner-Webb most recently fell 3-0 to Radford at home on Saturday night. The Highlanders of Radford got an early jump on the Bulldogs, scoring the first goal in the 5th minute of play. Radford put one more into the net in the 26th minute before finishing the game with a final goal in the 86th minute.  

    
 
UP Next for the Spartans  
Upon the conclusion of the regular season, Upstate will play in the Big South Conference Championships with the semi-final game set for November 3rd.   
 
  

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

GET INVOLVED    

Want to be a ball kid for USC Upstate Soccer? Kids ages 10 and up can help the Spartans all season long by retrieving game balls on the sidelines during home men's and women's soccer matches at County-University Soccer Stadium. Click here for more details.    

  
 
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