University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Wake Forest
Men's Soccer Set to Take On Wake Forest
9/7/2026 10:38:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Match Information
Matchup: USC Upstate (2-3-0) at Wake Forest (3-1-1)
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 8
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Spry Stadium | Winston-Salem, N.C.
Watch: ACCNX
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate men's soccer concludes a three-match road swing Tuesday night as the Spartans travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face perennial national power Wake Forest. Kickoff from Spry Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the match streaming on ACCNX.
Upstate enters the matchup 2-3-0 following a tightly contested 4-3 setback at UAB Saturday. The Spartans nearly erased a three-goal second-half deficit as Christian Cook, Tolu Fabamifobee and Josh Zawlocki each found the back of the net.
Spartans Finding the Back of the Net
After scoring once over their first two matches of the season, Upstate's attack has come alive over its last three. The Spartans have scored nine goals during that stretch, posting consecutive 3-0 victories over West Florida and ETSU before scoring three more at UAB.
Christian Cook and Josh Zawlocki have led the recent offensive surge. Both scored Saturday at UAB, with each collecting his third goal of the season. Zawlocki has scored in three consecutive matches, finding the net against West Florida, ETSU and UAB.
Cook has also scored in three straight contests, while Bennett Leitner has contributed goals against West Florida and ETSU. Fabamifobee joined the scoring column Saturday, recording his first goal of the season in the 58th minute.
Upstate has also received production throughout its lineup. Noah Daniels, Luke Marin and Jalen Moore each recorded an assist against UAB, with Moore setting up Zawlocki's 79th-minute goal that brought the Spartans within one.
Closing a Challenging Road Stretch
Tuesday marks Upstate's third consecutive road match and its fifth away from Spartanburg through the first six contests of the season. The Spartans began the stretch with a convincing 3-0 victory at ETSU before falling by one goal at UAB.
The matchup is also another major test in a challenging non-conference schedule assembled by second-year head coach Michael Antoniewicz. When announcing the schedule, Antoniewicz specifically pointed to the importance of testing his team ahead of Big South play, with the slate featuring road contests against South Carolina, Wake Forest and 2025 College Cup participant Furman.
Scouting Wake Forest
Wake Forest enters Tuesday 3-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in ACC play under head coach Bobby Muuss. The Demon Deacons are unbeaten at Spry Stadium this season at 2-0-1.
The Demon Deacons are coming off their biggest offensive performance of the season, defeating Duke 6-1 Saturday in their ACC opener. Wake Forest scored five times in the opening 36 minutes and finished the match with a season-high 27 shots.
Tate Lorentz led the attack against Duke, scoring twice for a four-point performance. Joby Reid, Joel Torbic, Mason Sullivan and Pariss Mitchell also scored as Wake Forest received goals from five different players.
Through five matches, Wake Forest has scored 11 goals while allowing just four. The Demon Deacons are averaging 2.20 goals and 17.0 shots per match, while recording 85 total shots and 28 corner kicks. Wake Forest has also produced 12 assists.
Wake Forest's defense has been strong as well, recording clean sheets against VCU and Bowling Green and surrendering just one goal over its last two victories. The Demon Deacons' lone loss came in a 1-0 decision at then-No. 10 Akron.
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