Spartanburg, S.C. – Appalachian State scored three unanswered goals in the second half to take a 3-1 victory over USC Upstate in non-conference men's soccer action Saturday night at County University Soccer Stadium.

Upstate fell to 2-5-1 on the year in its final non-conference game of the season. The Spartans will open A-Sun play Wednesday night at 7 at Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn. Appalachian State improved to 3-4-1.

Matt Flynn came up big for Upstate early in the match. Appalachian State played a ball into the box at the goal mouth. With Upstate goalkeeper Jack Rubin off his line, Mountaineer Alex Beranger put a header toward the goal. However, Flynn was there to head the ball away and save a goal to keep the game scoreless in the sixth minute.

Rubin came up big in the 23^rd minute, making a diving save on a header from Ben Steen. Just seconds later, Upstate went on a counter attack, but the Spartans could not maintain possession on a 2-on-1 opportunity. Upstate nearly got on the board in the 28^th minute when the ball was played in the box and the Spartans had several touches. However, no one could get a clean touch for a shot on the ball.

Upstate did cash in for the only score of the half in the 38^th minute. Calon Minors, getting the first start of his career, sent a cross into the box where Taylor Scalera put the shot away for his first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead for the Spartans.

Appalachian State finished the first half with the lead in shots, 8-4. The Mountaineers also owned a 7-2 lead in corner kicks. However, the Spartan defense and Rubin held Appalachian State scoreless in the first 45 minutes.

Appalachian State got the equalizer in the 49^th minute. Donovan Japp had control of the ball, took a couple of touches and lifted a looping cross deep into the middle of the box to Stanley Broaden. Broaden lifted his leg and made a sideways swipe at the ball, placing his shot into the upper left 90 to give the Mountaineers a goal and a 1-1 tie. It was his fourth goal of the season.

Appalachian State took the lead in the 57^th minute when Upstate was called for a foul in the box and the Mountaineers were awarded a penalty kick. Broaden took the kick and placed a shot just under a diving Rubin on the left side of the goal to open a 2-1 lead.

Upstate nearly tied the match in the 63^rd minute, but Scalera's header just went over the cross bar. The Spartans nearly tied it in the 75^th minute when Sam Moss got behind the defense and was one-on-one with Appalachian keeper Paul West. Moss got a touch on the ball, but West deflected the shot and the ball was cleared to prevent any other danger on the play.

Appalachian State put the game away in the 79^th minute. Austin Stamey took the ball into the box and laid a pass off to Keegan Tanaka who took a touch and placed a left-footed shot into the left side of the goal for a 3-1 Mountaineer lead.

Appalachian State finished the game with a 17-11 lead in shots and 8-3 advantage in corner kicks. Rubin finished the game with a career-high tying seven saves, while West tallied four for the Mountaineers.

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