Dara Russo Nets Her 31st Career Goal in Women's Soccer 2-1 Setback at EKU

Thursday, August 21

Lexington, Ky.

4:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Eastern Kentucky

2-1-0, 0-0-0

USC Upstate

Eastern Ky.

Russo and Jahromi Celebrating after goal vs. EKU

Photo by: Natalia Moll

8/22/2025 12:04:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Making their first long road trip of the season, the Spartans traveled to face the Eastern Kentucky Colonels Thursday afternoon. Despite dropping the match 2-1, Upstate set new season highs in shots (14), shots on goal (5), corner kicks (6), points (4), and assists (2).

Both teams traded shots throughout the first half but couldn't find the back of the net. It wouldn't be until the 64th minute that Eastern Kentucky scored the first goal of the game.

Senior forward Dara Russo put the Spartans on the board just moments after the Colonels netted their second goal. Russo's 31st career goal was assisted by Paige Armstrong and Hannah Johnson. She led the team in shots with five, three of them on target.

Savannah Noll and Morgan Nelson each had two shots, with one on goal. Goalkeeper Marley Gerber tied her career high in saves at four, facing 11 shots on the day.

Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 1; Eastern Kentucky 2
Record: USC Upstate (1-2-0; 0-0-0 Big South) vs. Eastern Kentucky (2-1-0; 0-0-0 ASUN)
Location: Lexington Sporting Club | Lexington, Ky.

How It Happened:
1^st Half: EKU took the first shot of the match 11 minutes into play. Drawing a foul inside the box, Dara Russo took the first penalty kick of the season, but her shot was saved by the Colonels' keeper. The Spartans got off five more shots before the half ended.
2^nd Half: The second half started similarly to the first, with EKU claiming the first shot. Upstate quickly answered just minutes later with shots by Caroline Simpkins and Dara Russo. EKU scored goals in the 64th and 69th minute of play, only to be followed by Upstate netting a goal moments later.

Notable

Paige Armstrong notched her 13th career assist and is now one assist shy of tying the programs Division I record
Hannah Johnson recorded her first career assist
Dara Russo set a season high in both shots and shots on goal
Angie Banks made her first appearance as a Spartan
Catarina Dantas played all 90 minutes of the match
Ella Jahromi had career high one shot
Morgan Nelson set a career high in shots (2) and shots on goal (1)
Raegan Bell took her first career shot as a Spartan
Marley Gerber tied her career in saves with four while facing a career high 11 shots

Up Next for the Spartans
The Spartans resume play next Thursday, returning back to Kentucky to face Louisville on August 28th at 3:00 pm.

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