MATTHEWS, N.C. – Despite holding the Highlanders scoreless for 60 minutes, USC Upstate women's soccer concluded its 2022 season as it fell 1-0 to Radford on Thursday night in the semifinals of the Big South Women's Soccer Championship.  

The newly named, Big South Freshman of the Year, Dara Russo wasted little time trying to get Upstate the lead and claimed the first shot of the game just 24 seconds into the match. Katelyn O'Donnell responded with Radford's first shot of the match, but the shot was too high. Upstate fired four shots in four minutes of play including one from Ashley Finn that rattled the frame, but the scoreboard remained 0-0. The two teams remained in a back-and-forth battle until halftime with Paige Olsen getting the last shot for Radford in the 40th minute which Brendle saved, and Magret Edda Bjarnadottir having her shot blocked with less than a minute left.  

Margret Edda Bjarnadottir maintained her rhythm through the break as she fired one in the 51st minute of but was once again blocked by the Highlander defense. Ashley Finn continued the Spartans' push with a shot in the 55th minute but was just above the crossbar. Amy Swain was able to get Radford on the board in the 61st minute with a turnaround shot to the low, far corner of the net. Nya Baccelli sent one wide in the 62nd minute as she looked for the quick equalizer. Upstate kept the Highlanders without a shot for the next ten minutes until Paige Olsen sent on high in the 71st minute. Though the effort was valiant, the Spartans came up just short, with the Highlanders' one goal being enough to end the 2022 season for Upstate. 

Following the conclusion of the match head coach Sharif Saber said, "Tonight did not go the way we wanted but we cannot take anything away from what this group of amazing young women accomplished this year. We will be back better than ever next year." 
 

  
    
Game Information    
Score: Upstate 0, Radford 1 
USC Upstate (9-5-4, 6-2-1 Big South) vs. Radford (11-3-4. 6-2-1 Big South)  
The SportsPlex | Matthews, N.C.    
    
How It Happened   

• 1'– Dara Russo (UPST) gets the first shot off of the game just 24 seconds in but sends it over the cross bar.  

• 3'- Katelyn O'Donnell (RAD) tallied the first shot of the game for Radford but similar to Russo, she came up empty as it went high.  

• 10'- Kat Parris (RAD) helped Cora Brendle (UPST) earn her first save of the game as Brendle collected Parris' shot.  

• 19' - Ashley Finn (UPST) fires back-to-back shots in the 19th minute and the 22nd minute but one was wide while the other hit the cross bar.  

• 24'- Radford goes on a run, firing five shots in 13 minutes, but the game remined 0-0.  

• 39'- Paige Olsen (RAD) tries to catch Brendle on her heals with a final shot for Radford before the half at the top of the 18-yard box, but Brendle gets high enough to push the ball over the crossbar.  

• 44'- Margret Edda Bjarnadottir (UPST) fires one last one before the halftime whistle but the Highlander defense comes up with a block.  

• At halftime, Upstate trailed Radford in shots (11-6) and corners (6-0) while leading in saves (6-1). 

• 51'- Margret Edda Bjarnadottir (UPST) claims the first shot of the second half but once again is blocked by the Radford defense.  

• 56'- Ashley Finn (UPST) adds to the efforts with a shot in the 56th minute but the shot is high. 

• 61'- Amy Swain (RAD) gets enough space for a turnaround shot from the outside of the 18-yard box, and finds the far, low corner of the net to give Radford the 1-0 lead.  

• 71'- Upstate holds the Highlanders without a shot for ten minutes until Paige Olsen sends one over the crossbar.  

• 73'- Ellie Arnold (UPST) looked to test Jordan Phillips (RAD) and was successful, making Phillips make the save to keep Upstate out.  

• 86'- Margret Edda Bjarnadottir (UPST) claimed the final shot of the game in the 86th minute but was once again blocked by the Radford backline.   

• At the final whistle, Upstate trailed Radford in shots (16-11), shots on goal (7-2), and corner kicks (7-4) while leading in saves (6-2). 

Notable   

• This is Upstate's second time making it to the semifinals of the Big South Women's Soccer Championship since joining the conference in 2018.  

• This was the first Big South Women's Soccer Championship for all the Spartans who took the field tonight.  

• Tonight was also head coach Sharif Saber's first Big South Championship.  

• This was the fifth time this season Cora Brendle has recorded at least six saves. 

• Five Spartans played the full 90 minutes tonight: Ashley Finn, Alaina McKnight, Cora Brendle, Margret Edda Bjarnadottir, and Catarina Bastos.  

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