CLINTON, S.C. - The
Presbyterian College men's soccer team fell to USC Upstate in PC's 2011 home
opener on Friday night, 2-0.
PC falls to 0-2-0 while USC Upstate improves to 1-1-0.
Jonny
Mercado (Lilburn, Ga.), Thomas Palma (Greenville, S.C.) and Oliver Nobels
(Columbia, S.C.) each had a shot on goal for the Blue Hose. Mercado led the
squad with five total shots, while Ignacio Monchetti (Montevideo, Uruguay) and Byron Quinatoa
(Columbia, S.C.) added two.
Tanner Osborne (Greenville, S.C.) made seven stops on the
night, including several stellar stops in the second half.
Palma put a solid header on net early to force Upstate's
first save in the opening minutes and Mercado added another in the 10th
minute on a free kick opportunity.
Upstate drew first blood in the 18th minute when
a Spartan corner kick went long, setting up a cross into the goal box to John
Kadane. Kadane headed in the airborne pass to put USC Upstate ahead with a lead
it would take into halftime, 1-0.
PC continued to press the attack in the second half with
several shots while Osborne made saves on the other end. All seven of the
goalkeeper's saves came in the final half.
Nobels sent a chance in on goal late in the contest but
Upstate's Jason McCabe kept the ball out of the net. An ensuing counterattack
sprung Dylan Hoop on a long, who tucked in a close shot to seal the win, 2-0.
The Blue Hose return to action with a Monday night contest
against Georgia State at 5:30 p.m. at Martin Stadium.
