SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate women's soccer program continued its Big South conference winning streak with an impressive 3-1 win over Radford at home on Saturday night. Ashley Finn got the Spartans scoring started with a goal in the 13th minute of play. Nya Baccelli scored an insurance goal in the 61st minute and Dara Russo put the nail in the coffin with a final goal in the 78th minute.  

With both teams going into the match without a conference loss, the Spartans and the Highlanders knew walking off with an easy win wouldn't be possible. Upstate got things started as the first 10 minutes saw shots from Dara Russo, Paige Armstrong, and Ashley Finn. In the 13th minute of play, Nya Baccelli broke away from the Highlanders' midfielders, getting enough space to find Ashley Finn running through the back line just outside the 18-yard box. The senior captain remained composed enough to find the lower right corner of the net as the Highlanders' goalkeeper came out to take Finn on one-v-one. Upstate remained in control for the rest of the first half with 11 shots compared to Radford's five.  

Coming out of the break, both the Spartans and the Highlanders went right back into the battle. After Upstate was given advantage instead of a free kick from a Radford foul in the 61st minute, Baccelli took on the Highlander's lone defender until she realized she was now in 3-on-1 situation and pulled the ball back. With enough space, Baccelli fired a bending shot into the back post, giving the Spartans a two-goal lead. Radford would be able to cut the Spartan's lead back down to a single goal with a goal of its own in the 68th minute of play with Paige Olsen finding Bianca Plowman in the 18-yard box. The Spartans responded to the Highlanders goal with a seven-woman substitution followed by five shots, two of which were on target. Dara Russo stepped up in the 78th minute and gave Upstate its final goal of the game as she fired one from distance into the left side of the goal.  

Head coach Sharif Saber was extremely happy with not only the result, but also his team's performance and the university's support at the game saying, "Tonight was a special night. Big thank you to the Spartan Army that came out to support us. I'm so tremendously proud of the growth of our program and every individual in it. Tonight was a fun night to be a Spartan!" 

Game Information    
Score: USC Upstate 3; Radford 1 
Record: USC Upstate (8-1-4, 5-0-0 Big South) vs. Radford (7-5-2, 3-1-1 Big South) 
Location: County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.      

 
How It Happened   

• 3' - Paige Armstrong (UPST) got Upstate's offense going with the first shot of the game going just over the crossbar.  

• 4'- Paige Olson (RAD) recorded Radford's first shot of the game which was also too high to be on target.  

• 7'- Dara Russo (UPST) earned her first shot on goal of the night as she hit one to the bottom left corner which was saved by Lexi Radvanyi (RAD).  

• 12'- Cora Brendle (UPST) earned her first save of the night via a shot to the top center of the net from Alexeis Kirnos (RAD). 

• 13'- Ashley Finn (UPST) got Upstate its first goal of the game as she placed the ball in the lower right corner of the net with an assist from Nya Baccelli (UPST). 

• 19'-26'- Baccelli showed an eagerness to score, taking four shots, two on target in the span of five minutes.  

• 34'- Eileen Albers (RAD) took the last shot of the half for Radford but in turn also gave Brendle (UPST) her third save of the half.  

• 43'- Rachel Satchell (UPST) tried her luck on target in the final minutes of the first half with a shot to the lower left corner that was picked up by Radvanyi (RAD). 

• At halftime, Upstate led Radford in shots (11-5) and trailed in saves (5-3) and corner kicks (2-1).  

• 46'- Alexeis Kirnos (RAD) tried to even up the game quickly out of the break but was unsuccessful with the shot going off target.  

• 52'- Russo (UPST) rattled the frame as she ripped a shot that would knock off the crossbar and rebound back into play.  

• 61'- Baccelli's (UPST) constant push on offense paid off as she scored the second goal for Upstate to make the game 2-0.  

• 68'- The Highlanders cut the Spartans' two-goal lead with a goal from Bianca Plowman (RAD) from inside the 18-yard box off a cross from the far side of the field.  

• 78'- Russo (UPST) would help the Spartans reestablish some cushion in their lead with an untouchable shot to the left corner to make the game 3-1.  

• At the end of full time, Upstate led Radford in shots (21-15) and shots on goal (11-6) and trailed in saves (8-5) and corner kicks (6-4).  

Notable   

• Baccelli's goal in the second half was her fourth of the season and her second game winning goal.  

• Finn's goal in the first half was her third goal of the season. 

• Russo's goal in the second half was her eighth of the season and her fourth against Big South opponents.  

• Upstate leads the Big South with a 5-0 record (15 points) with Radford behind it with 10 points.  

• Upstate is on its longest winning streak since joining the Big South in 2018.  

UP Next for the Spartans    
The Spartans will enjoy the week of rest with no mid-week game on the schedule and will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 14th to take on Longwood in Farmville, Va.  

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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