HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Quite the soccer match unfolded on a rainy afternoon in High Point, but the Spartans ultimately fell just short in their Big South opener by a score of 4-3.
The Spartans were quiet and down 2-0 after the first 25 minutes and were outshot 7-0 in that stretch. However, the final 65 minutes of the match belonged to the road team, as Upstate outshot the Panthers 15-8 and scored three goals to High Point's two to finish the match.
The scoring started for the Spartans when Jeremy Montero effortlessly weaved through traffic in the middle of the field before finding Braiden Hall on the left side. Hall ripped a shot into the right corner of the net, past the outstretched arm of the HPU keeper. Dzenan Cerimagic fought through contact in front of the box to bury the first goal of his career while Adrian Panaite capitalized on a PK try to even the match.
Braiden Hall led the Spartan's offense, firing five total shots with four of them being on target and earning the first goal of the match for the Spartans. Jeremy Montero took four shots of his own and earned his first assist of the year. Adrian Panaite was the only other Spartan to record more than one shot, taking two and earning his second goal of the year.
Game Information
USC Upstate 3 | High Point 4
USC Upstate (2-4-1, 0-1-0 Big South) at High Point (4-1-1, 1-0-0 Big South)
Location: Vert Stadium | High Point, N.C.
How It Happened:
11' - A sleepy, drizzly first ten minutes unfolded before High Point recorded the first shot of the night
15' - The home team struck first, taking a 1-0 lead
25' - and then they struck second, taking a 2-0 lead
25 – 45' - The Spartans dominated the offensive opportunities to end the half, outshooting High Point 6-0 over the final 20
48' - The offensive momentum carried forward into the second half as Braiden Hall knocked through his first goal of the season
49' - but the home team responded quickly, taking a 3-1 lead
51' - 65' - The Spartans would continue to put pressure on the Panthers, rattling off four shots, all of which were on goal
66' - before Dzenan Cerimagic scored the second goal of the match for the Spartans and the first of his career to make it a 3-2 game
73' - Momentum swung fully in the Spartans direction as Adrian Panaite capitalized on the penalty kick attempt to make it a 3-3 match
76' - but only a few minutes later, High Point was gifted a penalty kick attempt of their own and took advantage, taking a 4-3 lead which would be the final score
79' - 85' - Jeremy Montero would record the final two shots of the match for the Spartans but was unable to put them on target.
Notable:
-
The three goals scored by the Spartans were the most in the series D1 history. It's the most goal the Spartans notched in the series since a 3-2 loss in 2019
-
The three goals in the second half were also the most scored in a half by the Spartans since they matched that total in a 5-3 victory over Presbyterian last season
-
Braiden Hall and Dzenan Cerimagic both earned their first goals of the season. Hall's was the second of his career, with his first coming against South Carolina last year, while Cerimagic's was his first.
-
Jeremy Montero earned his first assist of the season, which was the seventh of his career. He's now on a two-match points streak
-
Montero, Julian Fernandez, and Cooper Jennings were the only Spartans to play the full 90 minutes
UP Next For The Spartans
The Spartans will stay on the road to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks Tuesday night.
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 | @UpstateMSoccer
Instagram | @Upstatemenssoccer
Youtube.com/UpstateSpartans
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes! Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!
