Women's Soccer Ties College of Charleston in 2026 Season Opener

Sunday, August 16

Charleston, S.C.

6:00 PM

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Charleston

1-0-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
USC Upstate	1	0	1
Col. of Charleston	1	0	1

8/16/2026 8:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – USC Upstate women's soccer opened the 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the College of Charleston Sunday evening at Patriots Point.

The Spartans struck first, needing less than nine minutes to find the back of the net. Liana Bryant scored the first goal of Upstate's 2026 season in the ninth minute, while Cansu Kara picked up the assist.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half

Charleston produced the first shot on goal in the fifth minute, but goalkeeper Hannah Wilt made the save to keep the Cougars off the board.
Upstate responded quickly. After Liana Bryant registered the Spartans' first shot in the eighth minute, the sophomore made her next opportunity count. In the 9th minute, Cansu Kara set up Bryant, who put her attempt into the top-right corner to give the Spartans a 1-0 advantage.
The Spartans continued to test the Charleston defense, with Lily MacCausland adding an attempt in the 12th minute.
Charleston began applying pressure midway through the period, but Wilt came up with consecutive saves against Mary Martin Spinner and Bella Antonio in the 28th and 29th minutes.
Katelyn Economopoulos put an attempt on frame in the 31st minute, forcing Charleston goalkeeper Ainsley Chunn into her first save of the night.
The Cougars found the equalizer in the 37th minute when Toubia scored unassisted, putting a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner to make it 1-1.
Raegan Bell recorded the final attempt of the opening half in the 44th minute as the teams entered the break tied.

Second Half

The Spartans came out of halftime looking for the go-ahead goal and earned corner kicks in the 59th and 62nd minutes.
Bryant nearly added her second goal of the night in the 70th minute, sending an attempt off target.
Upstate's attack began to generate sustained pressure in the closing stages. Nevaeh Roark had an attempt blocked in the 77th minute before Danielle Trovato saw back-to-back shots blocked less than a minute later.
Kara followed with a shot on goal in the 78th minute, but Chunn made the save.
The Spartans continued pushing for the winner. Kara forced another save in the 87th minute before MacCausland sent an attempt wide less than a minute later.
Wilt answered at the other end with her fourth save of the night in the 90th minute, denying Spinner.
Upstate created the game's final opportunity as Kara put another shot on frame at the 90-minute mark, but Chunn made the save to preserve the 1-1 draw.

NOTABLES

Upstate outshot Charleston 13-12, including an 8-5 advantage in the second half.
Both teams put five shots on goal.
The Spartans held a 7-4 advantage in second-half corner kicks and finished even with Charleston at seven corners apiece.
Liana Bryant scored Upstate's first goal of the 2026 season and finished with three shots and one shot on goal.
Cansu Kara assisted Bryant's goal and led the Spartans with three shots on goal, accounting for three of Upstate's five attempts on frame.
Danielle Trovato and Lily MacCausland each recorded two shots.
Goalkeeper Hannah Wilt played all 90 minutes in her Upstate debut, making four saves while allowing one goal.
Kara, Trovato, Annabelle Wunderlich, Gracie Black, Katelyn Economopoulos, Raegan Bell and Wilt each went the full 90 minutes.
Upstate's defense held Charleston without a goal over the final 53:43 of action.
The Spartans generated eight shots after halftime while limiting the Cougars to five.

UP NEXT
USC Upstate returns to Spartanburg for its 2026 home opener against Davidson on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m.

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