University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Wednesday, November 1
Asheville, NC
6 pm
UNC Asheville
9-5-2, 4-2-1
4
vs
2
USC Upstate
5-10-2, 2-4-1
1
2
F
USC Upstate
0
2
2
UNC Asheville
3
1
4
Bulldogs Clinch Big South Conference Tournament Spot with 4-2 Victory over USC Upstate
11.01.2023 | Men's Soccer
FULL BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP RELEASE
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Men's Soccer wrapped up the regular season with a 4-2 victory over USC Upstate at Greenwood Field on Wednesday (Nov. 1), securing the program's first postseason berth since 2016. It also marks the most wins in a season for Asheville since 2001, along with picking up three points in the Ingles I-26 Rivalry.
The teams traded chances throughout the first half, before Asheville would break through for the first goal in the 34th minute. Griffin Stidham lofted a ball forward finding the feet of Sam Pitts-Eckersall, who fired it home for his second of the season giving Stidham his first career assist. Less than four minutes later, Brendan Herb scored his fourth of the season off assists from Conor Behan and Edvin Grolimund to put the Bulldogs up 2-0. Asheville would pad its lead further in the 41st minute, when Michael Wilkerson scored the first goal of his career off assists from Benian Yao and Grolimund. The Bulldogs would carry their 3-0 lead to the midway point.
The scoring went quiet in the second half until the 79th minute, when Pablo Obrador and Aysa Hamid worked a ball up the wing in transition to find Jack Steel. Steel worked around a defender back to the middle and fired a rocket to the top right corner for his second of the season to put Asheville up by three. USC Upstate would respond with two goals in three minutes to bring the match to its final score. Jeremy Montero would score his fourth of the season on the penalty kick in the 80th minute, before Adrian Painate scored his third of the season off an assist from Jimmy James in the 83rd minute. Asheville would control the pace in the final seven minutes to secure the victory and punch their ticket to the postseason.
Asheville totaled 13 shots in the match including nine on goal, also earning one corner kick in the match. Pitts-Eckersall led the Bulldogs with four shots in the match, while Herb, Stewart Patnaud and Wilkerson each had two shots in the contest. Hamid, Steel and Grolimund each had one shot in the contest. Charlie Farrar (9-4-2) made six saves in the win.
The Bulldogs (9-5-2, 4-2-1 Big South Conference) will host 3-seed Winthrop in the Big South Conference Championship semifinals on Sunday (Nov. 5). Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. from Greenwood Field, with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.Â
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Men's Soccer wrapped up the regular season with a 4-2 victory over USC Upstate at Greenwood Field on Wednesday (Nov. 1), securing the program's first postseason berth since 2016. It also marks the most wins in a season for Asheville since 2001, along with picking up three points in the Ingles I-26 Rivalry.
The teams traded chances throughout the first half, before Asheville would break through for the first goal in the 34th minute. Griffin Stidham lofted a ball forward finding the feet of Sam Pitts-Eckersall, who fired it home for his second of the season giving Stidham his first career assist. Less than four minutes later, Brendan Herb scored his fourth of the season off assists from Conor Behan and Edvin Grolimund to put the Bulldogs up 2-0. Asheville would pad its lead further in the 41st minute, when Michael Wilkerson scored the first goal of his career off assists from Benian Yao and Grolimund. The Bulldogs would carry their 3-0 lead to the midway point.
The scoring went quiet in the second half until the 79th minute, when Pablo Obrador and Aysa Hamid worked a ball up the wing in transition to find Jack Steel. Steel worked around a defender back to the middle and fired a rocket to the top right corner for his second of the season to put Asheville up by three. USC Upstate would respond with two goals in three minutes to bring the match to its final score. Jeremy Montero would score his fourth of the season on the penalty kick in the 80th minute, before Adrian Painate scored his third of the season off an assist from Jimmy James in the 83rd minute. Asheville would control the pace in the final seven minutes to secure the victory and punch their ticket to the postseason.
Asheville totaled 13 shots in the match including nine on goal, also earning one corner kick in the match. Pitts-Eckersall led the Bulldogs with four shots in the match, while Herb, Stewart Patnaud and Wilkerson each had two shots in the contest. Hamid, Steel and Grolimund each had one shot in the contest. Charlie Farrar (9-4-2) made six saves in the win.
The Bulldogs (9-5-2, 4-2-1 Big South Conference) will host 3-seed Winthrop in the Big South Conference Championship semifinals on Sunday (Nov. 5). Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. from Greenwood Field, with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.Â
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Team Stats
UPST
AVL
Goals
2
4
Shots
20
13
Shots on Goal
8
9
Saves
5
6
Corners
8
1
Fouls
13
17
Scoring Plays
Sam Pitts-Eckersall (2)
Assisted By: Griffin Stidham
GOAL by AVL Pitts-Eckersall, Sam Assist by Stidham, Griffin.
33:50
Brendan Herb (4)
Assisted By: Conor Behan , Edvin Grolimund
GOAL by AVL Herb, Brendan Assist by Behan, Conor and Grolimund, Edvin.
37:02
Michael Wilkerson (1)
Assisted By: Edvin Grolimund , Aidan Whitlock
GOAL by AVL Wilkerson, Michael Assist by Grolimund, Edvin and Whitlock, Aidan.
40:34
Jack Steel (2)
Assisted By: Pablo Obrador , Aysa Hamid
GOAL by AVL Steel, Jack Assist by Obrador, Pablo and Hamid, Aysa.
78:30
Jeremy Montero (4)
UPST Jeremy Montero PENALTY KICK GOAL.
79:13
Adrian Panaite (3)
Assisted By: Jimmy James
GOAL by UPST Panaite, Adrian Assist by James, Jimmy.
82:36
Game Leaders
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M/F
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerF/M
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerHighlights || Men's Soccer || #2 UNC Asheville at #1 High Point (Big South Championship)
Monday, November 13
Highlights || Men's Soccer || #2 UNC Asheville vs #3 Winthrop (Big South Championship Semifinal)
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Men's Soccer || UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Men's Soccer || UNC Asheville at Winthrop
Monday, October 30