MSocc vs Gardner-Webb Celebration
1
Gardner-Webb GDWU (2-7-4, 0-2-3)
2
Winner USC Upstate USCP (5-8-2, 2-3-1)
Gardner-Webb GDWU
(2-7-4, 0-2-3)
1
Final
2
USC Upstate USCP
(5-8-2, 2-3-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gardner-Webb GDWU 0 1 1
USC Upstate USCP 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Spartans Grit Out 2-1 Victory Over Gardner-Webb

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The USC Upstate men's soccer team kept their Big South tournament hopes alive Saturday night as they gritted out a 2-1 victory over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs.  

Luke Halkett was the first Spartan to break through in the match, taking a crosser from Braiden Hall and burying it in the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Early in the second half, Jeremy Montero would score off a deflection from a Gardner-Webb defender, corralling the loose ball and lofting a shot over the defense.  

The Runnin' Bulldogs would score in the 71st minute, but the Spartans would take the 2-1 victory and the three points in Big South play, despite being outshot 21-8 over the full 90 minutes.  

Game Information 

USC Upstate 2 | Gardner-Webb 1 

USC Upstate (5-8-2, 2-3-1 Big South) vs Gardner-Webb (2-7-4, 0-2-3 Big South) 

County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C. 

How It Happened 

1' - 28' - The Runnin' Bulldogs came out the gate swinging, taking the first seven shots of the match. Cooper Jennings would deny five would-be goals to open the match 

33' - But the Spartans had the shot that counted, as Braiden Hall connected with Luke Halkett to take the 1-0 lead.  

34' - 45' - the rest of the half would proceed sleepily, as both teams would only take three combined shots 

50' - Gardner-Webb would again take the first shots of the second half, but Jeremy Montero would double the Spartan's lead with his fourth goal of the season 

71' - The Runnin' Bulldogs would make things interesting for the final stretch, as they would cut the Spartan lead in half with a goal of their own 

78-79' - But Cooper Jennings would deny their only on target shots for the rest of the match, bringing his save total to 8 

Notables 

  • The Spartans have won at home against Gardner-Webb for the first time since 2016 

  • Luke Halkett scored his first goal of the season. Both of his career goals have come against Big South foes as he notched his first in a 2-2 tie against Campbell.  

  • Braiden Hall had his third straight match with a point, picking up an assist in the victory. He is now tied for first in the Big South with 14 points 

  • Jeremy Montero recorded his fourth goal of the season, which is the second most in his career 

  • Cooper Jennings picked up 8 saves in the win, his sixth match of the season with 5+.  

  • The 2-1 victory was the Spartan's first non-shutout win of the season 

UP Next for The Spartans 

The Spartans will host Wofford for senior night Tuesday before taking a small break before the regular season finale at UNC Asheville.  

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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