Schmiege Lifts Spartans, Breaks 4 Records

October 31, 2014

Spartanburg, S.C. – Marvin Schmiege scored a pair of goals and broke four Division I era school records en route to leading the USC Upstate men's soccer team to a crucial 2-1 A-Sun victory over Northern Kentucky Saturday night at County University Soccer Stadium.

Schmiege became Upstate's Division I era record holder for points in a career and in a season and goals in a career and in a season with his two goals on the night. Not to be missed was that his efforts, and that of the determined Spartan team, have put Upstate in position to secure a berth in the six-team A-Sun Tournament with just two A-Sun games remaining on the schedule. With three points, the Spartans have moved into a tie for fifth in the A-Sun with Jacksonville, Upstate's next opponent.

Upstate improved to 3-8-1 overall and 1-3-0 with three points in the A-Sun with the win. The Spartans will close out the home portion of its schedule next Saturday when it plays host to Jacksonville on Senior Night at 7 p.m. at County University Soccer Stadium. NKU fell to 3-8-4 overall and 0-3-1 with one point in the conference.

"We've had some games slip away late and when it happens like it has this year, you kind of wait for it to happen again. You don't expect it and you hope it doesn't happen, but it is in the back of your mind," said Upstate head coach Greg Hooks. "For us to be able to continue to fight the way these guys fought, allow an early goal, and fight back to win says a lot about these men. They are good players, but they are even better people."

Northern Kentucky took an early 1-0 lead off a set piece on a corner kick. Diego Martinez took the corner kick and sent it into the box. The ball was headed out, but Nick McGregor brought the ball down, took a touch and sent a shot from 20 yards out just outside the box on the right-center portion of the field. His shot moved right to left and into the net toward the far post as the Norse opened the lead in the 13^th minute.

The early goal was basically the only solid scoring opportunity either team had in the first half. The Norse took a 4-2 lead in shots, and the 1-0 advantage on the scoreboard, into the intermission.

Upstate looked to change the game in the second half and pressured early on. It would be a common theme for the second half as the Spartans dictated the pace of play in the final 45 minutes.

Upstate and Heiko Allmendinger nearly tied in in the 55^th minute. After a quick corner kick taken by Joe Brinckwirth, Marvin Schmiege laid a pass off to Allmendinger about 10 yards out. Allmendinger's shot went just wide left of the goal as the Norse maintained their 1-0 lead.

With the game heading into the latter stages, Schmiege stepped up to lead the Spartans to the win in record-breaking fashion. Schmiege's game-tying goal started with a normal defensive play from Tucker Beerman. Standing at the midfield line, Beerman headed the ball upfield to Joe Brinckwirth, who's one-touch header found Schmiege at the top of the box. Schmiege moved around a defender and hammered a shot from 18 yards out right to left to tie the game at 1-1 in the 72nd minute.

The goal was historic as Schmiege put his name atop Upstate's Division I era record book. It gave the junior 16 points this season, breaking the single season record of 14 he entered the game with and was tied with Maurice Beggs (2009). The goal also gave him 28 points, breaking the career points record of 27 held by Dave Musambi (2011-13).

Beerman came up big in the 79^th minute when he stymied Kobie Qualah. Qualah looked to have a one-on-one opportunity with Upstate goalkeeper Jack Rubin in what would have been a tough save for Rubin. However, Beerman came back with a slide tackle to dispossess Qualah and save a shot opportunity.

Allmendinger helped start Schmiege's game-winning effort in the 82^nd minute. He took the ball down the left side and played a cross to Schmiege in the middle of the field. Schmiege again moved around a defender and his shot from 14 yards out went into the left side of the goal to give Upstate a 2-1 lead and, eventually, the win. The goal broke Upstate's Division I era career and single-season goals record, increasing his career total to 12 to top the 11 scored by Beggs and season total to eight to surpass the seven scored by Beggs in 2009.

"The night was crazy, crazy," said Schmiege. "We knew after we scored the first goal that we were going to get the second one. I thought we outplayed them in the second half. We just needed to bring the intensity up and go after it.

"I'm just really fortunate to have the opportunity to play here. I have worked really hard in practice and it has paid off, but more so for the team. I am just really happy to get this win."

"I told our guys the other day that I thought Marvin was the best player in the league," said Hooks. "He does things, individually, that allow our team to compete. He has some talented players around him, but he is a quality player, a great leader and I couldn't be more proud of the success he has had."

Schmiege now has 30 points and 12 goals in his career. He currently stands with 18 points and eight goals this season.

Upstate finished the game with a 10-7 lead in shots and an 8-6 advantage in corner kicks. Rubin finished the game with three saves for the Spartans.

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