University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Sunday, March 21
Asheville, N.C.
12:00 p.m.
UNC Asheville
2
vs
3
USC Upstate
Second-half surge comes up just short against Upstate
03.21.2021 | Men's Soccer
Men’s soccer falls 3-2
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's soccer team hosted USC Upstate on Sunday afternoon, nearly forcing overtime after scoring two goals in the second half before running out of time and dropping the match 3-2 to the Spartans.
The high-powered offense struck twice in the first and once early in the second, before Taylor Durall (62nd) and Conor Behan (87th) found the back of the net in the second, but the Bulldogs could not muster a third in time.
Where they Stand
Asheville now moves to 2-2-1 overall on the season, while USC Upstate remains atop the Big South standings with a record of 5-0-1. Asheville and Radford both sit in a tie for fourth after a 1-1 draw last week.
"Certainly a disappointing result, but there is a reason why Upstate is at the top of the table," said head coach Mick Giordano. "They are extremely disciplined and explosive on the attack. We have to get back to our roots of defending first, being a bit more organized and ultimately when we create chances, we have to finish them. That falls on myself and the staff."
Notable Numbers
Asheville returns to the pitch next Sunday (March 28) for its final home contest of the spring 2021 regular season, hosting Gardner-Webb at 2:00 p.m.
"We still have everything to play for ," Giordano said. "And we continue to move forward as this young group learns."
How it Happened
The Spartans threatened early when Mario Arrocha fired a shot that Musial punched over the crossbar to safety. Arrocha would test Musial again in the 13th, but Musial came up with another spectacular diving save to keep the game scoreless. Upstate continued to press, and in the 28th Arrocha found Jeremy Montero who broke the stalemate. Less than two minutes later, Montero buried his second of the game as the Spartans took control. The Bulldogs pushed back, getting shots from Behan, Durall and Justin Fleer, but went into the break down 2-0.
Durall had the first chance of the second, but Pol Monells, the leading scorer for the Spartans on the season, took a feed and placed it in the back of the net as Upstate extended its lead. Asheville responded in the 62nd, when Peay sent the ball into the box where Durall turned and fired it upper 90 to make the score 3-1. The teams traded chances from here before Behan found himself back post with a tap in to cut the deficit to one. With time winding down, Asheville wouldn't get another clean chance, dropping its first home game of the season.
The high-powered offense struck twice in the first and once early in the second, before Taylor Durall (62nd) and Conor Behan (87th) found the back of the net in the second, but the Bulldogs could not muster a third in time.
Where they Stand
Asheville now moves to 2-2-1 overall on the season, while USC Upstate remains atop the Big South standings with a record of 5-0-1. Asheville and Radford both sit in a tie for fourth after a 1-1 draw last week.
"Certainly a disappointing result, but there is a reason why Upstate is at the top of the table," said head coach Mick Giordano. "They are extremely disciplined and explosive on the attack. We have to get back to our roots of defending first, being a bit more organized and ultimately when we create chances, we have to finish them. That falls on myself and the staff."
Notable Numbers
- Durall, Behan each bury their second goal of the season
- Miles Peay dishes out assist in fifth straight game
- Upstate records nine shots on goal, Asheville totals five
- Leon Musial tied career high with six saves
Asheville returns to the pitch next Sunday (March 28) for its final home contest of the spring 2021 regular season, hosting Gardner-Webb at 2:00 p.m.
"We still have everything to play for ," Giordano said. "And we continue to move forward as this young group learns."
How it Happened
The Spartans threatened early when Mario Arrocha fired a shot that Musial punched over the crossbar to safety. Arrocha would test Musial again in the 13th, but Musial came up with another spectacular diving save to keep the game scoreless. Upstate continued to press, and in the 28th Arrocha found Jeremy Montero who broke the stalemate. Less than two minutes later, Montero buried his second of the game as the Spartans took control. The Bulldogs pushed back, getting shots from Behan, Durall and Justin Fleer, but went into the break down 2-0.
Durall had the first chance of the second, but Pol Monells, the leading scorer for the Spartans on the season, took a feed and placed it in the back of the net as Upstate extended its lead. Asheville responded in the 62nd, when Peay sent the ball into the box where Durall turned and fired it upper 90 to make the score 3-1. The teams traded chances from here before Behan found himself back post with a tap in to cut the deficit to one. With time winding down, Asheville wouldn't get another clean chance, dropping its first home game of the season.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D/M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
W/F
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