Wofford 3, USC Upstate 1

SPARTANBURG, S.C – Sophomore midfielder Connor Davis scored his team-leading fifth and sixth goals of the season as the Wofford men’s soccer team defeated the Spartans of USC Upstate, 3-1 Wednesday evening.

With the victory, the Terriers improved to 3-3-1 overall on the season and won their third straight game. With the loss, the Spartans fell to 0-4-1 overall.

In the first half, Wofford got off to a flying start in the sixth minute, when freshman forward Matthew Aurednik found Davis at the back post. Davis tapped the ball into the net, making the score 1-0. For Aurednik, it was his first career assist in his first career start as a Terrier.

USC Upstate had its best opportunity of the half when midfielder Michael Schwindl hit a shot at the back post that went into the side netting in the 24th minute.

Wofford would extend its lead in the 33rd minute, when Davis would head the ball in on the back post for his second goal of the match off of senior defender Billy Padula’s deflected long throw-in. The throw-in was deflected by Spartans junior goalkeeper Dani Alvarado. For Padula, it was his fifth assist on the season, all of which have come from long throw-ins.

The Terriers did an excellent job of keeping possession for most of the half and creating many chances as they outshot the Spartans 8-3 and went into the break holding a 2-0 advantage.

In the second half, USC Upstate cut the Wofford lead in half when Dave Musambi would score from the penalty spot in the 65th minute, making the score 2-1. The Spartans would have an opportunity to tie the game soon after, as Tevin Gage would shoot his one-on-one chance just wide of the goal.

Wofford would strike back and extend its lead again 3-1 when junior midfielder Carlos Dominguez Gonzalez would hit a cracking shot from 23 yards out into the top right corner of the net in the 68th minute. The unassisted goal was Dominguez Gonzalez’s third of the season.

For the match, the Terriers outshot the Spartans 12-6 and won the corner battle 5-3.

For Wofford, freshman goalkeeper Joe Wichmann earned his third victory of the season, facing six Spartan shots, and did not make any saves. Freshman Garrett Closs also made an appearance, playing the final 24 minutes of the match.

For USC Upstate, Alvarado fell to his 0-4-0 on the season, facing 12 Terrier shots and making three saves.

The Terriers return to action on Saturday when they return home to Snyder Field to open Southern Conference play against the Davidson Wildcats. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.