Sunday's MatchUP
September 3, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (1-1-2, 0-0-0 Big South) vs. VMI (1-3-0, 0-0-0 SoCon)
County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
How They Stack Up
Record: USC Upstate (1-1-2, 0-0-0 Big South) vs. VMI (1-3-0, 0-0-0 SoCon)
Series: Upstate leads the overall series 4-0-1
Last Five Matches: Sept. 17, 2022 (UPST 1, VMI 1), Sept. 21, 2014 (UPST 1, VMI 0), Aug. 23, 2013 (UPST 2, VMI 1), Aug. 17, 2012 (UPST 1, VMI 0 [2OT]), Sept. 25, 2011 (UPST 2, VMI 2)
Players to Watch
Upstate's offense is currently led by transfer, Paige Armstrong who has two goals so far this season, one against Hampton and most recently one against Wofford. Nya Baccelli recorded her first game of the season against Furman on Sunday which made her the sixth Spartan to score in the 2023 season. Baccelli leads Upstate with 10 shots while returning Big South Freshman of the Year, Dara Russo, has nine and Armstrong has eight.
VMI has two goals so far this season, both of which have come from Sedona Dancu. Dancu led the Keydets offense last year with five goals, 10 points, 33 shots, 15 shots on goal, and one game winning goal. The Keydets also return their primary goalkeeper from the 2022 season, Jillian Hall. Hall finished last season with 17 game starts, 124 saves, and a .693 save percentage.
Last Match
The Spartans received their second tie of the season after finishing in a 1-1 tie with the Paladins of Furman University. Baccelli scored her first goal of the season to give Upstate a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute. Furman was able to score in the 69th minute to tie it up. Baccelli had five shots while Russo had three, and Armstrong, Noll, and Sanders had two respectively.
Most recently the Keydets fell 2-1 to the Spartan's fellow Big South competitors, Winthrop University. Despite a goal in the 15th minute to force the Eagles to score, the Keydets were unable to walk away with the win as Winthrop scored in the 25th and 59th minutes.
UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate continues its home stand, hosting The Citadel Sunday, Sept. 10th at 4:00 p.m. before it prepares to go back on the road to play ETSU at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14th.
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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