MATTHEWS, N.C. – Facing High Point in a rematch of the 2024 Big South Championship, USC Upstate women's soccer once again played the High Point Panthers for the 2025 Big South Tournament Title. Ending regulation at 1-1, the game went into PKs and saw High Point advance 7-6.
Getting the Spartans on the board first was
Savannah Noll, capitalizing on a penalty kick goal. Noll finished the day with three shots, two on goal, while logging 110 minutes of action.
Paige Armstrong led all Spartans in shots with 10, followed by
Riley O'Bryan adding four shots, two on target.
Paige Armstrong,
Audrey Baer, and
Savannah Noll were all named to the Big South All-Tournament Team.
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 1; High Point 1 (High Point Advances 7-6 in PKs)
Records: USC Upstate (10-6-3; 6-2-2) vs. High Point (5-9-5; 3-3-2 Big South)
Location: Matthews Sportsplex | Matthews, N.C.
How It Happened
1st Half: The Spartans started the match quickly, with the first shot being aimed on target by
Savannah Noll.
Dara Russo fired off a shot at the nine-minute mark, but it was saved by the keeper. With nearly fifteen minutes remaining in the half and the score still zero-zero,
Savannah Noll netted the penalty kick to give the Spartans the advantage before the break.
2nd Half: Starting the second half,
Hannah Johnson quickly got off a shot.
Paige Armstrong followed, but her shot was saved.
Morgan Nelson had her shot saved in the 75
th-minute. In the 89
th-minute, High Point found the equalizer to send the game into overtime.
OT1: Caroline Simpkins was the lone Spartan to get a shot off in the first overtime.
OT2: Heading into the second overtime,
Dara Russo,
Paige Armstrong, and
Morgan Nelson all got shots off, with two of the three being saved.
Marley Gerber made a save with 2-minutes remaining to keep the game knotted up at 1-1.
Penalty Kicks: Facing penalty kicks to decide a match for the second time this season, both Upstate and High Point sent it to seven frames after each team made all five. High Point saved Upstate's seventh attempt to secure their advancement and claim the Big South Championship.
Notable
UP Next for the Spartans
The Spartans' 2025 season has come to a close.
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