GREENVILLE, S.C. – USC Upstate made program history with its first-ever win over Furman with a 2-1 victory over the Paladins in Greenville on Thursday night. Upstate went into the matchup trailing 8-0 in the overall series with Furman and set a program record two goals over the Paladins.
Both teams came out of the gate looking for a battle. Upstate claimed the first three shots of the game courtesy of freshman, Dara Russo, while the Spartan defense held the Paladins without a shot for the first nine minutes. Russo made a drive towards the top of the 18-yard-box, eager to sink one into the net but was fouled by a Paladin. Margret Edda Bjarnadottir took the free kick and sent a right-footed strike into the lower right corner of the net, giving Upstate the 1-0 lead in the 19th minute of play. Upstate held Furman scoreless through the end of the first half.
The second half kicked off with the same intensity as the first, as Upstate sank one in within the first 30 seconds. Freshman Morgan de Barros found a stray ball on the back end of a Spartan cross and was able to get her body around it to find an awaiting Russo in the 18-yard-box. Russo took a touch to get space from the Paladin defense and found the back of the net to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead with 44 minutes of play left. Despite the Spartans' tactile defensive efforts, the Paladins were able to break through and prevent the shutout with just over two minutes of play.
Coach Saber was ecstatic following the final whistle saying, "After our last game versus The Citadel we knew we were coming to Furman and we knew we'd have to battle. For the last couple of days, we talked about battling and playing to our full potential and the girls playing without fear. Tonight, you saw that for 90 minutes and I'm so very proud of them".
Game Information
Score: Upstate 2, Furman 1
Records: USC Upstate 2-2-2; 0-0-0 Big South); Furman (3-4; 0-0-0 SoCon)
Location: Stone Stadium | Greenville, S.C.
How It Happened
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4'- Furman retaliated back with four shots of their own, maintaining primary possession of the ball for the next five minutes.
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18'- Helen Gutierrez (FUR) fouls Dara Russo (UPST) 25 yards out from the goal. Margret Edda Bjarnadottir (UPST) capitalizes on the free kick by scoring her first collegiate career goal with a right-footed shot to the right corner of the goal.
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45'- Upstate was able to shutout the Furman offense and able to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead for the second time this season.
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At halftime, Upstate trailed Furman in shots (10-6) and in corner kicks (4-3). The Spartans led in saves (3-1).
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45'- Morgan de Barros (UPST) was able to collect a crossed ball on the left side of the box for the Spartans. de Barros found Russo (UPST) in the middle of the six where she took a touch to get space from the Paladins and was able to sink goal number two of the game.
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87'- Nieva Gaither (FUR) found room in the midfield and was able to get enough space from the Spartans to put Furman on the board and make the game 2-1 with minutes left in the match.
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Upstate trailed just behind Furman in shots (16-3) while leading in saves (6-2) and both having six corner kicks.
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Russo led the Spartans in shots (6) with Bjarnadottir just behind her (3) and Ashley Finn with two.
Notable
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Margret Edda Bjarnadottir scored her first goal of the season and the first goal of her career
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Dara Russo scored her second goal of the season; this was also Russo's second career goal
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Russo had a season and career high of six shots tonight
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Morgan de Barros notched her first career assist against Furman
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de Barros also earned her first collegiate start tonight
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Saber's back line consisted of Alaina McKnight, Emily Rangel, and Catarina Bastos who all played the full 90
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Cora Brendle also played 90 minutes in the goal tonight making five saves
UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate looks to ride this big win into its next game with VMI Saturday, Sept. 17th just before starting Big South Conference play against High Point on Wednesday, Sept. 21st.
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