SPARTANBURG, SC – Francis Marion University junior goalkeeper Taylor O’Berry set a new mark for career saves, but the Patriots could not hold an early 1-0 advantage and lost to USC Upstate 2-1, Tuesday night (Oct. 21) in non-conference women’s soccer action.

The Patriots drop to 2-11-0 and will return home to hold Senior Day on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Delaware State University.  USC Upstate improved to 3-12-1.

O’Berry, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., registered eight saves to pass former Patriot great Jacque Sutphin with 288 career saves.  Sutphin posted 287 saves in three seasons between 2005 and 2007.

FMU took a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute when senior forward Elizabeth Asare scored an unassisted goal.  It was the Canadian international’s fifth tally of the year and the 17th of her career.  Her goal immediately followed a sequence in which O’Berry stopped a 1v1 scoring opportunity for the Spartans’ Mary Stanton.

Asare nearly put FMU 1-0 four minutes earlier when she placed a near-perfect cross into the six-yard box, but sophomore Kelly Anthony’s shot went high and over the crossbar.

USC Upstate answered back when Kenzie Major scored the first of her two goals at the 19:55 mark. She recorded the match-winning score in the 32nd minute off and assist from Casey Troiano.  Major finished the match with 13 shots, including seven on frame.

FMU had opportunities to score an equalizing goal in the second half.  Patriot sophomore Tori Whigham hit the post with a shot in the 52nd minute, and senior midfielder Chanel Harris had her penalty kick in the 58th minute stopped by Spartan goalkeeper Brooke Bailey. Bailey finished with four saves.

USC Upstate outshot Francis Marion 21-15 and also held a 10-4 lead in corner kicks.

O’Berry’s record-setting save came on an attempt by Major with 12 seconds remaining in the match.

 

USC Upstate (3-12-1) def. Francis Marion Univ. (2-11-0) 2-1

Date: Oct 21, 2014  Attendance: 109

Goals by period          1  2  Tot

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Francis Marion Univ.  1  0 -  1

USC Upstate.........     2  0 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:

0-1.  14:47 FMU Elizabeth Asare (5) (unassisted)

1-1.  19:55 UPST MAJOR, Kenzie (6) (KREJCI, Nicki)

2-1.  31:43 UPST MAJOR, Kenzie (7) (TROIANO, Casey)

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 15, USC Upstate 21 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 8 (Taylor O'Berry 8), USC Upstate 4 (BAILEY, Brooke 4)