Highlanders Rally Late, Fall Just Short at USC Upstate

Saturday, October 3

Spartanburg, SC

11:00 AM

Radford University

3-7-1, 0-3-0

USC Upstate

4-8-0, 2-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Radford	0	1	1
USC Upstate	2	0	2

Highlanders Rally Late, Fall Just Short at USC Upstate

10/3/2026 2:35:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Radford men's soccer program rallied back from a 2-0 deficit Saturday morning at USC Upstate but came up just short in the eventual 2-1 finish.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Noel Zimbeva scored the lone goal for the Highlanders, his fourth of the season. He's one of just three Highlanders since 2023 to have 4+ goals in a season.
Carson Danner and Sam Amyx added assists, their first of the year. They are the seventh and eighth different players to tally an assist this season.
While USC Upstate ended the match with more shots, Radford was more accurate with six of their 11 shots coming on target.
After a slow start, Ben Miller rebounded well in the net to keep the match within reach making saves on all four shots he faced.

COACH CORMACK QUOTABLE
"I'm proud of the response and effort from the guys in the second half. I thought we did enough to get something from the game in the end, but ultimately we came up just short. We're still searching for the consistency in our performances that we know we're capable of, and when you put yourself behind, you make the game that much more difficult.

This is a young group with a lot of potential, and I fully believe we have what it takes to be successful. Right now, we're learning some tough lessons along the way, but those experiences have to help us grow, mature and become a better team." - Head Coach Andy Cormack

PLAY BY PLAY
In a match that featured 12 total bookings, the intensity began early as both teams drew a foul and a card was given out just six minutes in. In the seventh minute, USC Upstate would create a 1-0 lead and would later double that lead after a handball in the box led to a penalty kick.

The Highlanders faced a 2-0 deficit after a rough first half, but would bounce back with a much more dominant back half. Right away, the Highlanders created pressure with multiple shots and broke through in the 56th minute. After a strong throw in by Danner, Amyx headed the ball to Zimbeva in the middle of the box who struck with ease to halve the Spartans' lead.

The pressure continued as Zimbeva ripped off another shot on target just minutes later, but a Spartan save kept the game at 2-1. A corner kicked followed another shot on target by Zimbeva with another save while Danner also got a shot on target all before the 75th minute.

Radford kept pushing but bookings began to be an issue as Radford picked up four in the second half. The Highlanders got one last look on a corner kick in the final seconds, but the attempt wouldn't be converted as USC Upstate held on in the 2-1 final.

UP NEXT
Radford continues their Big South schedule next Friday, October 9th when they host Presbyterian for a 7 p.m. kick off. The match is also International Night which will highlight the multiple international student-athletes that make up the Highlanders' roster.

STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD MEN'S SOCCER
For all the latest on Radford men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on X (@RadfordMSOC), Instagram (@radfordmsoc), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Men's Soccer).

#RiseAndDefend