Adrianna Pepe First Career Goal
Adrianna Pepe
0
South Carolina St. SCSU (0-11-0, 0-0-0)
10
Winner USC Upstate UPST (9-2-4, 5-1-0)
South Carolina St. SCSU
(0-11-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
10
USC Upstate UPST
(9-2-4, 5-1-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
South Carolina St. SCSU 0 0 0
USC Upstate UPST 5 5 10

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Records Continue to Break in the 2023 Season as Upstate Women's Soccer Shutouts South Carolina State 10-0 on Wednesday Night

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate women's soccer program finished its mid-week non-conference match against South Carolina State with one of the largest shutout wins in program history. With goals coming from six Spartans including three from Dara Russo, two from Nya Baccelli, and two from Hannah Blodget, Upstate collected its ninth win of the season with a 10-0 finish against the Lady Bulldogs.  

Upstate wasted little time getting on the board as a quick play, corner kick from Margret Edda Bjarnadottir and Savannah Noll assisted Baccelli in her first goal of the night just six minutes into the first half. The Lady Bulldogs of S.C. State were able to keep the Spartans offense at bay for 19 minutes but would allow another goal as Baccelli once again scored this time with some help from Audrey Baer. Adrianna Pepe tallied her first career goal a minute later as a shot from distance found its way into the far post, unassisted. The Spartans offense refused to let up with the third goal being scored in the 32nd minute of play starting with center back Catarina Bastos picking off an S.C. State pass and finding Ellie Arnold in the middle of the field. Arnold quickly found Rachel Satchell who scored her first goal of the season. Arnold recorded her first goal of the season after getting on the end of a cross into the box from Emily Sanders who connected with Sydney Thomas to make the goal possible. With five goals, 19 shots, and 63% of the possession in the first half, the Spartans went into the halftime break in a comfortable position. 

Coming out of the break, S.C. State was able to hold the Spartans to five goals for 12 minutes before Dara Russo opened the flood gates once again with her first goal of the night in the 57th minute of play. Russo wasn't finished yet as she tallied not just her second goal, but her third as well to earn her second hat trick of the season in five minutes. Freshman Hannah Blodget got in on the action in the second half with goals in the 73rd and 78th minute of play, to push the Spartans to an astounding 10-goal victory.  Cora Brendle played her 14th full game of the season and earned her fourth solo shutout with help from the Spartans back line.  

Various programs records were either tied or broken during the 10-0 win over South Carolina State. As a team, the Spartans were able to set a new program record for assists in a single game (14) which was originally set back in 2021 (12), goals in a single game (10) which was set in 2007 (9), and points in a single game (34) which was originally set in 2007 (25). The Spartans now have 37 goals on the season which ties the program record for goals in a season, set back in 2018. Upstate is also in the process of setting a new program record for points and assists in a season, as the previous records have been surpassed. With her three assists tonight, Bjarnadottir joins Paige Armstrong in the record books for the program record for assists in a single game. Russo once again ties the second-place program record for goals in a single game (3) which she set against Winthrop earlier this season.  

  

Game Information    
Score: USC Upstate 10: S.C. State 0 
Record: USC Upstate (8-2-4, 5-1-0 Big South) vs. S.C. State (0-11)  
Location: County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.   

 
How It Happened   

  • 6' - On a quick corner kick, Margret Edda Bjarnadottir found Savannah Noll at the edge of the 18-yard box. Noll found Nya Baccelli waiting with time and space in the center of the field, and Baccelli sunk the shot into the lower left corner of the goal.  

  • 25'- Audrey Baer found Baccelli making a run through the center into the 18-yard box and was able to slot the ball to the lower left corner just under the S.C. State goalkeeper.  

  • 26'- A failed clearance out of the Lady Bulldogs defensive third, Adrianna Pepe served a ball back into danger but instead found the back of the net.  

  • 32'- Catarina Bastos picked off an S.C. State pass and connected with Ellie Arnold, who slotted Rachel Satchell for the finish. 

  • 44'- Emily Sanders played the one-two with Sydney Thomas before sending in the ball from the right side of the field, finding Ellie Arnold for the final goal of the first half.  

  • At halftime, Upstate led S.C. State in shots (19-0) and corner kicks (4-0) while also trailing in saves (6-0).  

  • 57'- Ashley Finn connected with Bjarnadottir in the middle before Bjarnadottir found Dara Russo running through the defense to finish her first goal of the game. 

  • 58'- Paige Armstrong found Bjarnadottir in the middle of the field, just outside of the box. With a one touch pass, Bjarnadottir played Russo into the 18-yard box and Russo slotted the ball low to the near post.  

  • 60'- Noll sent a lofted ball over the S.C. State back line to Russo, who took one touch before her left footed shot found the top of the net for a hat trick.  

  • 73'- Blodget found the ball out of the air as it deflected off a Lady Bulldog defender and with a one touch finish found the center of the goal.  

  • 78'- Morgan de Barros found Sydney Thomas with some time and space in the final third. Thomas sent a rocket to the cross bar and Blodget was able to pick up the scraps for the final goal of the game. 

  • At the end of full time, Upstate trailed in shots (18-8), shots on goal (6-3), and corner kicks (4-3) and led in saves (4-3).  

Notable   

UP Next for the Spartans    
The Spartans are back at home on Saturday afternoon to kick off the Upstate soccer double header with their senior night game against Presbyterian set for a 4:00 p.m. kick off.  

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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Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics    
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