Lexington, Va. – A pair of early goals spelled the difference in the game as Liberty took a 3-1 victory over USC Upstate in the Jay Sculley Memorial Tournament hosted by VMI at Patchin Field Sunday afternoon.

Upstate fell to 1-2-1 on the year with the loss and will return to action Wednesday evening at 6:00 when the Spartans travel to Rock Hill, S.C., to take on Winthrop. Liberty remained undefeated and improved to 4-0-1 on the year.

For anyone who thought the game was going to be a low-scoring affair, the teams combined for three goals in the first half to put that notion to rest. Upstate and Liberty also combined for 16 shots.

It didn't take long for the scoring to begin as Liberty pushed a goal across in the second minute. On a set piece, Khalil Karl lifted a shot from 25 yards out that just cleared Upstate keeper Jack Rubin and found the back of the net to give the Flames an early 1-0 advantage.

Upstate then had a bit of bad luck as Liberty opened a 2-0 lead in the 21^st minute. Connor Fleming played a cross into the box where a Spartan defender looked to clear the ball but instead knocked the ball into the goal for an own goal and a 2-0 Flame advantage.

Despite falling behind by two goals and having some bad luck go its way, Upstate continued to battle. That resilience paid off in the 30^th minute. Rinaldi Alphonse, who scored the winning goal Friday against VMI, had possession at midfield and lifted a pass to Joe Brinckwirth. Brinckwirth took a couple of touches and fired a shot from the top right corner of the box that got by Liberty keeper Scott Sutarik to get the Spartans back within a goal, 2-1.

Liberty ended the half with an 11-5 lead in shots. Six of the Flames' shots were on goal, while Upstate placed two shots on frame. Rubin tallied four saves in the half.

Liberty looked to put the game away early in the second half. The Flames got a corner kick opportunity and Connor Fleming placed a cross into the box where Ernest Siaw put a header away for a 3-1 Liberty lead in the 50^th minute.

After an active first half, not much happened for either team after Siaw's goal in the 50^th minute as the game remained scoreless the remaining 40 minutes of the second half. Liberty went on for the 3-1 victory.

Liberty finished the game with 16 shots, leading Upstate by eight. The Flames put 10 shots on goal, while the Spartans placed three on frame. Rubin finished with a career-high seven saves on the day.

Follow the Spartans on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap

Women's NCAA Tournament Second Round Recap

Vanderbilt Shocks No. 1 Florida State