Men's Soccer Falls to Georgia State in 2026 Season Opener

Thursday, August 20

Atlanta, Ga.

7:00 PM

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Georgia State

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
USC Upstate	1	0	1
Georgia St.	2	0	2

8/20/2026 9:37:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

ATLANTA, Ga. – USC Upstate men's soccer generated a strong second-half push and finished the night with advantages in both shots and corner kicks, but a pair of first-half goals proved to be the difference as the Spartans fell 2-1 to Georgia State Thursday night at the GSU Soccer Complex.

Upstate finished the match with a 19-15 advantage in shots, including a 13-4 edge during the second half. The Spartans also earned nine corner kicks compared to three for the Panthers. Georgia State, however, put 10 of its 15 attempts on frame while Upstate placed six shots on goal.

Georgia State opened the scoring in the 24th minute when David Martins Jorge found the bottom-left corner following an assist from Kenny Yedmel. The Panthers' early pressure forced Upstate goalkeeper Jarrett Wuerslin into several saves, including stops in the fifth, 10th, 11th, 16th and 21st minutes.

The Spartans answered in the 34th minute. After Upstate earned consecutive corner kicks, Matiwos Rumley found the top center of the net for his first goal of the season, pulling the Spartans level at 1-1. Jacob Cromedy picked up the assist on the equalizer.

The tie lasted just under six minutes as Georgia State regained the lead in the 39th minute. Pavel Romero-Garmendia scored unassisted to the bottom-left corner, sending the Panthers into halftime with a 2-1 advantage.

Upstate controlled much of the attacking action following the break, outshooting Georgia State 13-4 over the final 45 minutes. Oscar Kelly tested Panther goalkeeper Finn Marchisen in the 56th minute before Jalen Moore put another attempt on frame in the 60th. Cromedy followed with a shot on goal in the 62nd minute as the Spartans continued to search for the equalizer.

The pressure continued with Upstate earning three corner kicks between the 65th and 68th minutes. Henry Burt and Rumley each had shots blocked during the stretch. Xande Santos later forced another save from Marchisen in the 76th minute, while Johannes Lund sent an attempt wide in the 79th.
Despite the second-half surge, Upstate couldn't find its second goal before the final whistle.

Rumley led the Spartans' scoring effort with the goal, while Cromedy recorded the assist. Moore, Santos and Kelly each finished with three shots, with Moore, Santos and Rumley putting one attempt apiece on target. Wuerslin played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded eight saves while facing 15 Georgia State shots.

UP Next

The Spartans will return to action Monday, August 24th in Columbia versus the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Notable

Upstate outshot Georgia State 19-15 and held a 13-4 advantage in the second half.
The Spartans earned nine corner kicks compared to three for Georgia State.
Matiwos Rumley scored Upstate's lone goal, with Jacob Cromedy earning the assist.
Jarrett Wuerslin finished with eight saves across 90 minutes.
Upstate put six of its 19 shots on goal.
The Spartans did not concede a goal during the second half.

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