Thursday, August 20
Atlanta, Ga.
7:00 PM
University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
at
Georgia State
Men's Soccer Opens the 2026 Campaign at Georgia State
8/19/2026 10:05:00 AM | Men's Soccer
August 20, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (0-0-0) at Georgia State (0-0-0)
GSU Soccer Complex | Atlanta, Ga.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A new season begins Thursday night for USC Upstate men's soccer as the Spartans head south to Atlanta to open the 2026 campaign against Georgia State. Kickoff from the GSU Soccer Complex is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Thursday is the beginning of year two under head coach Michael Antoniewicz, who guided the Spartans to the semifinals of the Big South Men's Soccer Championship during his first season at the helm. Upstate finished 2025 at 5-11-3 overall and 2-3-2 in Big South play, closing the year with a 5-1 victory over UNC Asheville in the opening round of the conference tournament before falling to eventual champion High Point in the semifinals.
The Spartans enter 2026 with increased expectations after being selected third in the Big South Preseason Coaches' Poll. The third-place selection represents a two-spot jump from 2025, when Upstate was picked fifth entering Antoniewicz's first season, and is the program's highest preseason placement since also being selected third in 2023.
The Match Up
USC Upstate and Georgia State have become familiar opponents in recent seasons, with Thursday marking the 10th meeting between the programs in Upstate's Division I era. Georgia State leads the series 6-1-2, while the Spartans are searching for their first road victory against the Panthers. Upstate is 0-3-1 all-time in Atlanta.
Despite the overall series advantage for Georgia State, recent meetings have been tightly contested. Four of the past five matchups have been decided by one goal or ended in a draw. Upstate earned its first victory in the series with a 1-0 shutout in Spartanburg in 2023 before Georgia State responded with a 3-2 victory in Atlanta in 2024.
Last season's opener provided another close battle, as the Spartans and Panthers played to a 2-2 draw at County University Soccer Stadium. Oscar Kelly opened the scoring for Upstate, giving the Spartans the first goal of the Antoniewicz era. Georgia State responded with two goals before halftime, but Upstate found the equalizer in the second half to secure a point in his head coach's Upstate debut.
The Spartans will now look to break through in Atlanta, where their lone positive result came in a 1-1 draw during the 2010 season. The last meeting at the GSU Soccer Complex saw Georgia State escape with a 3-2 victory on Sept. 13, 2024.
Georgia State begins its fifth season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference and its 17th season under head coach Brett Surrency. During his tenure, Surrency has led the Panthers to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a Sun Belt championship. Georgia State finished sixth in the Sun Belt standings a season ago.
The Panthers enter Thursday following a preseason that featured road exhibitions against Clayton State and Clemson. After playing both tune-ups away from Atlanta, Georgia State returns to the GSU Soccer Complex to host Upstate in its regular-season home opener.
For the second consecutive season, USC Upstate and Georgia State will meet to begin their respective regular-season schedules. The Spartans will look for another strong opening-night performance after battling the Panthers to a 2-2 draw in Spartanburg last August.
Connect with the Spartans    Â
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics      Â
X (Twitter) | @UpstateMSoccer      Â
Instagram | @Upstatemenssoccer      Â
Youtube.com/UpstateSpartans     Â
INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!
Â
USC Upstate (0-0-0) at Georgia State (0-0-0)
GSU Soccer Complex | Atlanta, Ga.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A new season begins Thursday night for USC Upstate men's soccer as the Spartans head south to Atlanta to open the 2026 campaign against Georgia State. Kickoff from the GSU Soccer Complex is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Thursday is the beginning of year two under head coach Michael Antoniewicz, who guided the Spartans to the semifinals of the Big South Men's Soccer Championship during his first season at the helm. Upstate finished 2025 at 5-11-3 overall and 2-3-2 in Big South play, closing the year with a 5-1 victory over UNC Asheville in the opening round of the conference tournament before falling to eventual champion High Point in the semifinals.
The Spartans enter 2026 with increased expectations after being selected third in the Big South Preseason Coaches' Poll. The third-place selection represents a two-spot jump from 2025, when Upstate was picked fifth entering Antoniewicz's first season, and is the program's highest preseason placement since also being selected third in 2023.
The Match Up
USC Upstate and Georgia State have become familiar opponents in recent seasons, with Thursday marking the 10th meeting between the programs in Upstate's Division I era. Georgia State leads the series 6-1-2, while the Spartans are searching for their first road victory against the Panthers. Upstate is 0-3-1 all-time in Atlanta.
Despite the overall series advantage for Georgia State, recent meetings have been tightly contested. Four of the past five matchups have been decided by one goal or ended in a draw. Upstate earned its first victory in the series with a 1-0 shutout in Spartanburg in 2023 before Georgia State responded with a 3-2 victory in Atlanta in 2024.
Last season's opener provided another close battle, as the Spartans and Panthers played to a 2-2 draw at County University Soccer Stadium. Oscar Kelly opened the scoring for Upstate, giving the Spartans the first goal of the Antoniewicz era. Georgia State responded with two goals before halftime, but Upstate found the equalizer in the second half to secure a point in his head coach's Upstate debut.
The Spartans will now look to break through in Atlanta, where their lone positive result came in a 1-1 draw during the 2010 season. The last meeting at the GSU Soccer Complex saw Georgia State escape with a 3-2 victory on Sept. 13, 2024.
Georgia State begins its fifth season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference and its 17th season under head coach Brett Surrency. During his tenure, Surrency has led the Panthers to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a Sun Belt championship. Georgia State finished sixth in the Sun Belt standings a season ago.
The Panthers enter Thursday following a preseason that featured road exhibitions against Clayton State and Clemson. After playing both tune-ups away from Atlanta, Georgia State returns to the GSU Soccer Complex to host Upstate in its regular-season home opener.
For the second consecutive season, USC Upstate and Georgia State will meet to begin their respective regular-season schedules. The Spartans will look for another strong opening-night performance after battling the Panthers to a 2-2 draw in Spartanburg last August.
Connect with the Spartans    Â
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics      Â
X (Twitter) | @UpstateMSoccer      Â
Instagram | @Upstatemenssoccer      Â
Youtube.com/UpstateSpartans     Â
INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!
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Players Mentioned
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