Wednesday's MatchUP  
October 18, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. ET   

USC Upstate (8-2-4, 5-1-0 Big South) vs. South Carolina State (0-10)  
County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.  
 

How They Stack Up  

Record: USC Upstate (8-2-4, 5-1-0 Big South) vs. South Carolina State (0-10) 

Series: USC Upstate leads the overall series 5-1-2 

Last Five Matches: Oct. 19, 2022 (UPST 5; SCSU 0), Sept. 12, 2021 (UPST 6; SCSU 0), Oct. 9, 2018 (UPST 6; SCSU 1), Aug. 26, 2016 (UPST 1; SCSU 1), Sept. 5, 2014 (UPST 4; SCSU 1), 

Players to Watch  

Dara Russo has the Spartans stats for most of the season with eight goals, two assists, 18 points, 48 shots, 31 shots on goal, and two game winning goals. Nya Baccelli sits just below her with five goals, four assists, 14 points, 38 shots, 19 shots on goal, and two game winning goals. Margret Edda Bjarnadottir (4), Paige Armstrong (2), Ashley Finn (2), and Audrey Baer (2) all have multiple goals on the season as well. Russo still leads the Big South in points (18), shots on goal (31), and goals (8) as well as being second in shots with an average of 3.43 shots per game (48 shots total).  

Upstate has consistently started Catarina Bastos and Hailey Sapinoro in the backline with Savannah Noll, Adrianna Pepe, Emily Rangel, and Emily Sanders all seeing starts and decent time through all six conference games so far. Cora Brendle has continued to be Upstate's final line of defense, establishing a .746 save percentage as well as 44 saves. 

South Carolina State's stats are led by Alexis Keleema, Brooke Gloster, and Karla Gordon with one goal each. Gloster leads the Lady Bulldogs with 12 shots and 10 shots on goal; Gordon is just behind her with 11 shots and four shots on goal. Sierra Curnell has started all 10 matches in goal for the Lady Bulldogs. Curnell has 86 saves on the season and sits with a .562 save percentage.  

Last Match    

Upstate most recently fell for the first time this season in Big South conference play after a 2-0 finish in Virginia on Saturday. Dara Russo led Upstate's offensive efforts with three shots, two on goal. Rachel Satchell, Ashley Finn, Audrey Baer, and Nya Baccelli all contributed shots against the Lancers as well. Prior to Saturday's loss, the Spartans were riding a six-game winning streak and had not dropped a game since they lost 2-1 to Wofford on Aug. 24th. Cora Brendle played the full 90 minutes in the goal for USC Upstate and made four saves.  

Most recently, the Lady Bulldogs fell 5-0 to the University of Arkansas- Pine Bluff at home. Karla Gordon helped lead South Carolina State on offense with three shots, one shot on goal, as did Loren Barrera Perez and Brooke Gloster who each had two shots on goal. Sierra Curnell played the full 90 minutes in the goal for the Lady Bulldogs and made seven saves.  

     
 
UP Next for the Spartans   
The Spartans will remain at County University Soccer Stadium to honor their seniors on Saturday, with a 4:00 p.m. kickoff with Presbyterian.   
  

Join Us for Happy Hour   

From the time gates at County University Soccer Stadium open to kickoff (one hour) fans will save 30% off a combination of a nacho and Pepsi product of your choice!  The savings make the concession package just $5.00 but it's only good for the hour preceding the start of the match and this will be the last women's soccer game this deal is available!   

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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