Box Score RALEIGH, N.C. - The USC Upstate Spartans went into the wolf's den for a road match with NC State and despite a defiant effort in the first half, the road Spartans fell to the Wolfpack by a score of 3-0.
The Spartans took the fight to NC State in the first half as Jimmy James and Jeremy Montero rattled off the first shots of the night. The Wolfpack would respond in kind, recording five corner kicks and four shots over a fifteen-minute span before Fabian Dietrich nearly recorded the goal of the year off a snipe from midfield. Dietrich's shot caught the NC State keeper out of position and unable to flip the hips to defend the shot, but the long-range blast went just high of the net.
Both teams went into halftime tied at 0, but the Wolfpack swarmed to start the second half. The home team found the back of the net for the first time in the 49th minute before earning a second in the 61st. The Wolfpack added another to their total thanks to a penalty kick in the 74th minute, which would be the final score of the 3-0 match.
The Spartans were neck and neck in terms of offensive production with NC State in the first half, with the Wolfpack holding a 7-5 shot advantage over the first 45, but the home team took control in the second, outshooting the Spartans 12-0 over the final half.
Game Information
Score: Upstate 0 | NC State 3
USC Upstate (1-1-0, 0-0-0 Big South) at NC State (2-0-0, 0-0-0 ACC)
Location: Dail Soccer Field/Track Complex | Raleigh, N.C.
How it Happened
1' - Jimmy James records the first shot of the match for the Spartans, but it is deflected over the middle. Jeremy Montero notches the second of the day just a few seconds later and forces Lucas Hatsios to make his only save of the night
5' - NC State earns the first corner kick of the match and would go on to record eight on the night
20' - Fabian Dietrich rips a shot from midfield and catches the NC State keeper sleeping. Dietrich's shot would sail just a hair too high and come to rest on the top of the net
39' - 42' - Braiden Hall and Dzenan Cerimagic would record the last two shots of the day for the Spartans but both would be blocked in front of the net.
49' - NC State came out of the gates swinging in the second half and found the back of the net for the first time as Ervin Cruz capped off a sequence of shots from the Wolfpack
53' - Cooper Jennings earns his first save of the second half and would go on to reject five more during the final 45
61' - NC State takes a 2-0 lead off the foot of Luke Hillie
74' - NC State notches the final goal of the match after a penalty kick finds its way to the back of the net
77' - 90' - Cooper Jennings turns away the last two shots of the night to earn his fifth and sixth saves.
Notable -
UP Next for the Spartans
The Spartans stay on the road for a trip to Conway as the take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Friday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m.
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