Late Eagle Heroics Top USC Upstate in OT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Youth and experience combined in overtime for a 1-0, Georgia Southern win, Wednesday night at USC Upstate, as freshman Luigi Clendening scored the game-winner less than two minutes after senior goalkeeper Brian Young stopped a potentially deadly penalty kick.

After 96 minutes of a scoreless battle, a Georgia Southern (5-7-0) foul awarded USC Upstate (2-9-0) a penalty kick.  Young (Roswell, Ga.) made the crucial save to keep the Eagles alive.

Moments later, Young collected a Spartans corner kick and quickly punted the ball where a pair of consecutive headers from Mark Beville (Apopka, Fla.) and Daniel Smith (Marietta, Ga.) set up Clendening (Augusta, Ga.) for the his third goal of the season 18 yards out.

“It was a must win for us,” said Young, who just three weeks prior saved a penalty kick versus North Florida and saw the Eagles win 1-0 (Sep. 19).  “I guessed right and that was enough to push our team and give us enough confidence.”

“I knew he was going to save it,” said Clendening.  “Everybody was lifted up after that save.  After that penalty kick save, it changed things and gave us a big lift.”

In regulation play, USC Upstate led the shot tally in the first half by a slim 4-2 margin, but then in the second half, the Eagles turned up the offensive attack, firing off six shots, while the Spartans struggled up front, producing only two chances.

“I felt that in the first half, we played poorly, whereas I thought we would be well-rested,” said head coach Kevin Kennedy.  “So we made some adjustments at halftime, and played much better in the second half.”

The two teams battled to a scoreless stalemate at the conclusion of the 90-minute regulation, which sent the Eagles into only their second overtime game this season, and eventually their first overtime victory.

“We’re excited to win a tough game,” said Kennedy.  “The boys were challenged psychologically and now we’re focused on heading back home to play Davidson on Saturday.”

Young made five saves on the day en route to a 3-2 record and his second shutout of the season.

The Eagles are slated to host the Wildcats in Southern Conference action, Saturday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.

Category: Men's Soccer

Published on Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:09