Saturday's MatchUP
August 12, 2023 | 7:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big South) vs. Elon (0-0-0, 0-0-0 CAA)
Rudd Field |Elon, N.C.
*Live Stats and Streaming Not Available for Exhibitions*
How They Stack Up
USC Upstate started its 2023 season with a home exhibition against UNC Greensboro on Monday evening. In a similar fashion, Elon also started its 2023 season with a home exhibition the Pirates of East Carolina. Upstate had an exceptional 2022 season, with head coach Sharif Saber leading the Spartans for the first time, finishing with an overall 9-5-4 record. Elon finished the 2023 season with a similar record of 9-6-3 overall.
Players to Watch
Upstate retained nine of its 11 starters from last season including 2022 Big South Goalkeeper of the Year, Cora Brendle, 2022 Big South Freshman of the Year, Dara Russo, and senior captain Ashley Finn. Brendle played 18 games for a combined 1540 minutes played. The senior finished the 2022 season with nine wins, six shutouts, 0.88 goals against average, 79 saves, and a .840 save percentage. Russo played in all 18 of the Spartans games last season and finished with six goals (12 points), 48 shots, 20 shots on goal, and three game winning goals. Saber also returns Finn and Sydney Thomas who tallied three goals each last season, as well as fifth-year senior Emily Sanders who led the team in assists (5).
Elon retained six of its 11 starters from the 2023 season. The Phoenix retained their starting goalkeeper, McKenna Dalfonso who finished last season with 17 starts and a combined 1,511 minutes of play. Dalfonso finished her junior season with 40 saves, seven shutouts, nine wins, a 1.25 goals against average, and a .656 save percentage. Elon also returns its leading goal scorer, Ashlee Brehio. Brehio finished her freshman season with six goals, 12 points, 39 shots, and two game winning goals.
Last Match
Last season, USC Upstate entered the Big South Women's Soccer Championship as the No. 2 seed for the first time in program history and went against No. 3 seed Radford. Despite a valiant effort, the Spartans fell 1-0 after the Highlanders were able to sneak one in during the 61st minute of play.
The Phoenix finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 9-6-3, as well as a 5-3-1 record in the CAA. Elon capped the 2023 season in the Quarterfinal round of the CAA Women's Soccer Tournament as No. 4 seed Elon took on No. 5 seed Towson. The Phoenix trailed early to the Tigers as Towson scored a goal in the 22nd minute of play and created a two-goal deficit in the 75th minute of play. Elon was able to fight back and make the game 2-1 in the 88th minute of play, but fell just short at the conclusion of full time.
UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate will remain on the road with its first regular season game scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on August 17th against College of Charleston.
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.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateWSoccer
Instagram | @UpstateWSoccer
Youtube.com/UpstateSpartans
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