University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Gardner-Webb
10/27/2026 5:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With a Big South Conference regular season championship on the line, the USC Upstate women's soccer team travels to Boiling Springs, N.C., Wednesday evening to take on Gardner-Webb in its final conference matchup of the 2026 regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Greene-Harbison Stadium, with the contest available to stream on ESPN+.
The Spartans enter the matchup with a perfect 6-0-1 mark in Big South play, sitting atop the conference standings with 19 points. With either a victory or a draw against Gardner-Webb, USC Upstate will clinch the Big South regular season championship outright, capping off a historic conference campaign under first-year head coach Sam Odell.
MATCH INFORMATION
Matchup: USC Upstate (11-2-4, 6-0-1 Big South) at Gardner-Webb (5-8-2, 2-3-1 Big South)
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C.
Venue: Greene-Harbison Stadium
Watch: ESPN+ |Â https://tinyurl.com/5y35czvd
Stats:Â https://tinyurl.com/46uvv7mj
Last Time Out
USC Upstate enters Wednesday's contest following a dominant 6-0 victory over South Carolina State in its final home match of the regular season on October 21.
The Spartans controlled the match from start to finish, outshooting the Bulldogs 25-1 and holding a 12-0 advantage in shots on goal. Five different Upstate players found the back of the net, with Annabelle Wunderlich leading the offensive charge with two goals.
Wunderlich converted a pair of first-half penalty kicks, while Cansu Kara, Liana Bryant, Arianna Diemer and Jasmine Hicks each added goals of their own. Bryant's goal marked her ninth of the season, while Diemer and Hicks both recorded their first goals of the year.
Upstate's defensive unit also delivered a standout performance, limiting South Carolina State to just one shot and securing another clean sheet.
Championship Implications
Wednesday's matchup presents USC Upstate with an opportunity to secure the Big South regular season crown.
The Spartans currently lead the conference standings with 19 points, holding a six-point advantage over second-place UNC Asheville. With a win or draw against Gardner-Webb, Upstate would secure sole possession of first place and finish conference play unbeaten.
The Spartans have put together a remarkable run in Big South play, earning victories over Radford, Charleston Southern, Longwood, Presbyterian, Winthrop and High Point before battling UNC Asheville to a 1-1 draw on October 17.
Spartans to Watch
Liana Bryant continues to lead the Spartans' offensive attack, entering Wednesday's matchup with a team-high nine goals on the season. Bryant has been a consistent scoring threat for Upstate and will look to make another impact in the regular season finale.
Jasmyn Mitchner has also played an important role in the Spartans' offensive success, contributing seven goals this season, while several other Upstate players have provided key contributions throughout the campaign.
The Spartans enter Wednesday's contest with momentum following a pair of Big South weekly honors. Wunderlich was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week after scoring twice against South Carolina State, while Hicks earned Freshman of the Week recognition following her performance against the Bulldogs.
Scouting Gardner-Webb
Gardner-Webb enters Wednesday's matchup with a 5-8-2 overall record and a 2-3-1 mark in Big South play.
The Runnin' Bulldogs opened conference competition with consecutive 2-1 victories over Presbyterian and Charleston Southern before dropping matches to UNC Asheville and Radford. Gardner-Webb then played High Point to a scoreless draw before falling 1-0 to Winthrop in its most recent outing on October 17.
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