SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The USC Upstate Spartans are looking to make a push late in the season as they took down the Longwood Lancers by a score of 2-0.  

The match unfolded in a similar fashion to last year's 2-0 victory in Farmville, with neither team able to find the back of the net until late in the first half. This time, it was freshman Dzenan Cerimagic who corralled a long ball from Felipe Marty and lofted a shot over the Lancer keeper's hands.  

Braiden Hall extended the Spartan's lead to two in the 66th minute, capitalizing on a penalty try awarded after Jeremy Montero was taken down inside the box. Hall now has three penalty goals on the season and is now tied with Mario Arrocha for the most penalty kicks by a Spartan in a single season and in a career.  

As a team, the Spartans took 17 total shots and put seven on target for the second match in a row. Cooper Jennings picked up his fourth shutout win of the season, denying nine would-be goals en route to the critical victory.  

Game Information 

USC Upstate 2 | Longwood 0 

USC Upstate (4-7-2, 1-3-1 Big South) vs Longwood (4-4-3, 0-3-1 Big South) 

County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C. 

How it Happened 

1' 9' - The Lancers wasted no time in putting pressure on the Spartan's defense, taking the first six shots of the match over this stretch. Cooper Jennings would record the first two saves of the match 

11' - Braiden Hall takes the first Spartan shot of the day, forcing a save by Longwood's Max Hinkle. Hall would finish with six shots, four of which were on goal 

40' - Neither team would find offensive success until the 40th minute, where the Spartans jumped in front of a Lancer throw in. Felipe Marty would launch a long ball from midfield to Dzenan Cerimagic, who would find open space between three defenders for the score 

50' - 52' - Cooper Jennings would record three back-to-back-to-back saves in this stretch, denying the Lancer rally attempt 

66' - Jeremy Montero is taken down in the box, letting Braiden Hall take his third penalty kick of the year and subsequently earn his third penalty goal of the season and fourth overall 

70' - 86' - The Spartans would take the final six shots of the match to maintain the 2-0 shutout win 

Notables 

• Dzenan Cerimagic earned his third goal of the season. Cerimagic has been efficient this season, earning three goals on four shots on goal. Three Spartans have 3+ goals on the year... 

• Including Braiden Hall, who picked up his third penalty goal of the season. He is now tied with Mario Arrocha for the most penalty goals in a single season and in a career in Upstate's DI era.  

• Hall has four goals on the season and leads the Spartans in points with nine 

• Felipe Marty picked up his second assist of the season 

• Cooper Jennings earned his fourth shutout victory of the season. He picked up nine saves in the match, his most since picking up ten in a 1-0 win against Georgia State. He has 65 saves on the season 

• The Spartans have recorded 15+ shots in their last three matches and have seven shots on goal in all three as well 

UP Next for The Spartans 

The Spartans will make a trip to Charleston on Tuesday to take on the College of Charleston. They'll return to Big South play in a pivotal matchup with Gardner-Webb on Saturday.  

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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