CLINTON, S.C. – Junior forward Josh Carter (Anchorage, Alaska) played the hero in the Presbyterian College men's soccer team's season opener on Friday night, wearing a mask to shield a broken nose and scoring two goals—including the game-winner one minute into overtime—to knock off the visiting USC Upstate Spartans for a 4-3 win at Edens Field at Martin Stadium.
PC opens the season at 1-0 for the first time since 2010. The Blue Hose next play on the road Friday in a 7:30 contest at UNC Wilmington. USC Upstate opens the season at 0-1.
After freshman Ian Dempsey (Madison, Ala.) slammed home a rebound off of an Ignacio Monchetti (Montevideo, Uruguay) shot in the 83rd minute to even the game, the two teams entered overtime in a 3-3 tie. One minute into the extra frame, Monchetti slotted a pass to a streaking Carter down the left side and the junior finished his run with a shot that beat Spartan goalkeeper Dani Alvarado to win the game for the Blue Hose.
The goal came almost 90 minutes after Carter scored his first of the game, a laser that followed a scramble in front of the net to put PC ahead 1-0 just 1:22 after the opening whistle.
With the Blue Hose up quickly, Monchetti scored 1:09 later to make it 2-0 PC in the match's third minute. A foul set up a free kick near the side line and the junior took advantage, firing a low ball that deflected off of an Upstate defender and into the net for his first of the season. With the goal and a pair of assists, Monchetti finished the night with four points along with Carter.
PC took its 2-0 lead into halftime but Upstate rallied with three straight goals in the second half. Eli Cothran put the Spartans on the board in the 58th minute by putting away a rebound chance and Dave Musambi scored another one just 44 seconds later on a beautiful curling shot to pull the visitors even.
Marvin Schmiege used a corner kick for Upstate's third goal. The Spartan launched a kick into the box and into the goal to put Upstate in front, but the lead proved short-lived as Dempsey scored less than three minutes later to set up overtime and PC's extra time heroics.
PC goalkeeper Tyler Beadle (Douglasville, Ga.) made six saves on the night for the win, including four in the second half. Carter and Monchetti each tallied two shot goals and Dempsey added another.
Blue Hose freshmen Dempsey, Matthew McManis (Greenwood, S.C.), Charles Blankenship (Collierville, Tenn.) and Cade Crow (Liberty, Mo.) all made their first collegiate starts. Fellow freshmen Spencer Marks (Woodstock, Ga.), Ryan Reeves (Berkhamsted, England), John Speed (Decatur, Ga.), Ebun Terry (Lilburn, Ga.), Bobby Dukes (Irmo, S.C.) and Marijo Gojic (Lawrenceville, Ga.) also made their collegiate debuts on the night.
