This Week's MatchUP 

 
September 19, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. ET   

USC Upstate vs. South Dakota State 
Fishback Soccer Park | Brookings, S.D. 

Live Stream | Live Stats 

How They Stack Up  

Record: USC Upstate (3-2-2; 0-0 Big South) vs. South Dakota State (6-2-1; 0-0 Summit) 

Series: First Meeting in Program History  

Players to Watch  

Upstate: 2024 Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Dara Russo leads the Spartans offense after scoring four goals and being credited with three assists for a team high 11 points. Nya Baccelli sits just behind Russo with four goals and one assist, despite leading the team in shots (22) and shots on goal (11). Paige Armstrong has also scored multiple goals so far this season after finding the net in back-to-back contests with VMI and the College of Charleston. Junior goalkeeper Meghan Groah made her fourth consecutive start of the season against Wofford and played her third consecutive full match. In Saturday's game, Groah recorded seven saves for the third consecutive match and walked away with her first solo shutout of her Spartan career.  

South Dakota State: The Jacks most recently beat Oregon State 3-2 on the road on Sunday to advance to 6-2-1 overall on the season. Avery Murdzek tallied South Dakota State's first goal of the game just before halftime while Kaycee Manding tied the game 2-2 in the 59th minute. The game winning goal came in the 61st minute thanks to Avery Blanc. Katelyn Beulke leads the Jack Rabbits' offense with four goals, one assist, nine points, 16 shots, nine shots on goal, and one game winning goal. Stephanie Leckwold has started five of South Dakota State's nine games and sits with a 0.89 goals-against average and a .800 save percentage after racking up 16 saves and allowing four goals against. 

 
 
UP Next for the Spartans   
Upstate will commence conference play Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Clinton, S.C. against the Blue Hose of Presbyterian.  
 

INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here! 

MORGAN SQUARE MADNESS (Oct. 3, 2024) - Click here for info on South Carolina's only FREE, open to the public, outdoor basketball tip-off party!  Click here for details for all of Family and Alumni Weekend at USC Upstate, Oct. 3-5! 
 

 
BALLKID PROGRAM – Join the team beside the team, the USC Upstate soccer ballkid program!  Free opportunity to play a support role on gameday -open to kids 5th – 8th grade, click to sign up today! 

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