Tuesday, September 14, 2004

#4 USC UPSTATE EDGE PAST NORTH GEORGIA 2-1 IN OVERTIME
Senior Gary Lynch Scores Game Winning Goal

Dahlonega, Ga. - The Saints (2-2-2) scored the first goal of the match, but it was the Spartans (3-1-0) who came away with the 2-1 overtime victory and handed North Georgia its second loss of the season.

USC Upstate came into the match ranked #4 in the nation in NCAA Division II. Both teams played to a draw in the first half, but three minutes into the second half Saints junior forward Ciro Pelliccia (Conyers, Ga.) broke the tie off of an assist from senior forward Calvin Smith (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and gave North Georgia the 1-0 lead.

The Spartans went on the attach after the goal in the second half and out shot the Saints 16 to six in the half. Saints freshman goal keeper Chapin LaChance (Dahlonega, Ga.) was tested in his first start of the season, and tallied 11 saves. USC Upstate finally netted a ball with six minutes to go in the match when sophomore midfielder David Stoval (Elgin, S.C.) scored a goal and tied the game at 1-1.

With the momentum behind the Spartans, they pressed the Saints defense quickly in overtime and senior midfielder Gary Lynch (Blackburn, England) was able to slip a ball past LaChance to score the game winning goal for USC Upstate.

The Spartans have the week off as they prepare to face conference opponent USC-Aiken on Saturday at 3:30 pm in Aiken. North Georgia will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on conference rival Aurburn University at Montgomery at 6:00 pm at the North Georgia Soccer Complex.

Box Score

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