Oscar Kelly's Brace Not Enough as Upstate Falls to Gardner-Webb

Saturday, October 17

Boiling Springs, N.C.

7:00 PM

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

4-10-0, 2-3-0

Gardner-Webb

7-4-1, 4-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
USC Upstate	1	3	4
Gardner-Webb	1	4	5

Game Notes Watch Live Stats

10/17/2026 10:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The USC Upstate men's soccer team battled through a back-and-forth Big South Conference matchup Saturday evening, scoring four goals behind a two-goal performance from Oscar Kelly before ultimately falling 5-4 to Gardner-Webb at Greene-Harbison Field.

The Spartans move to 4-10-0 overall and 2-3-0 in Big South Conference play, while Gardner-Webb improves to 7-4-1 overall and 4-1-0 in league action.

Upstate's offensive attack was led by Kelly, who recorded two goals and an assist for a five-point performance. Jayden Montgomery and David Palade each added a goal, while Tolu Fabamifobee contributed an assist. The Spartans finished with 19 shots, including 14 in the second half, and placed eight attempts on target.

The Runnin' Bulldogs struck first in the 12th minute as Nicolas Triguero found the back of the net at the 11:50 mark to give Gardner-Webb an early 1-0 advantage.

Upstate responded with offensive pressure of its own, as Kelly tested Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Oliver Weng in the 14th minute with a shot toward the bottom center of the goal. The Spartans continued searching for an equalizer before Montgomery delivered in the 27th minute, scoring his third goal of the season at 26:19 to bring the match level at 1-1.

Both teams continued battling throughout the remainder of the opening half, with Gardner-Webb holding a 9-5 advantage in shots. Upstate goalkeeper Jarrett Wuerslin collected a save in the 33rd minute to keep the contest even heading into halftime.

The Spartans came out aggressively in the second half, generating several early scoring opportunities. Ollie West forced a save from Weng in the 52nd minute, while Palade and Fabamifobee added attempts as Upstate looked to take its first lead of the evening.

That breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Palade found the back of the net at 64:42 off an assist from Kelly, putting the Spartans ahead 2-1. The goal marked Palade's third of the season.

Gardner-Webb answered less than two minutes later, with Tim Kreuzpeintner scoring at 66:13 to even the contest at 2-2.

The Spartans continued to respond, regaining the advantage in the 70th minute behind Kelly's first goal of the evening. The midfielder scored at the 69:39 mark to give Upstate a 3-2 lead.

However, the Runnin' Bulldogs quickly answered once again, as Triguero converted a penalty kick just 41 seconds later to level the match at 3-3.

Upstate refused to back down, reclaiming the lead for the third time in the second half. At the 72:45 mark, Kelly connected for his second goal of the evening off an assist from Fabamifobee, pushing the Spartans ahead 4-3.

The goal capped a standout offensive performance for Kelly, who finished with five shots, four shots on goal, two goals and an assist.

Gardner-Webb continued to apply pressure down the stretch, eventually finding the equalizer in the 79th minute when Triguero converted his second penalty kick of the contest to complete his hat trick and tie the game at 4-4.

With the match hanging in the balance, both teams searched for the deciding goal in the final minutes. The Runnin' Bulldogs ultimately broke through at 87:31 when Kreuzpeintner scored his second goal of the evening, giving Gardner-Webb a 5-4 advantage.

Kelly nearly delivered another late equalizer for the Spartans in the 89th minute, but his shot toward the top-left corner was turned away by Weng, allowing Gardner-Webb to escape with the one-goal victory.

Despite the result, Upstate put together a strong offensive showing, scoring three second-half goals and generating 14 shots over the final 45 minutes.

Fabamifobee led the Spartans with six shots, while Kelly followed with five. Wuerslin played all 90 minutes between the posts, recording five saves.

Gardner-Webb finished with a 25-19 advantage in total shots and a 10-8 edge in shots on goal, while holding a 10-5 advantage in corner kicks.

Notable Stats

Oscar Kelly recorded two goals and an assist for a five-point performance, finishing with five shots and four shots on goal.
Jayden Montgomery scored his third goal of the season in the 27th minute to equalize the match at 1-1.
David Palade netted his third goal of the season in the 65th minute, giving Upstate its first lead of the evening.
Tolu Fabamifobee recorded an assist on Kelly's second goal and led the Spartans with six shots.
Jarrett Wuerslin played all 90 minutes in goal, collecting five saves.
USC Upstate finished with 19 total shots, including 14 in the second half, and eight shots on goal.
The Spartans held the lead three separate times in the second half during the nine-goal contest.

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