September 25, 2025

USC Upstate Men’s Soccer Dominates UNC Asheville

Spartanburg, S.C., September 24, 2025

News Summary

The USC Upstate Men’s Soccer team delivered a stellar performance against UNC Asheville, securing a commanding 4-0 victory. The match showcased a remarkable combination of strong offensive play and solid defense. Notably, Henry Burt scored his first collegiate goal, and Oskar Kaufmann netted two goals, contributing significantly to the team’s win. This victory marks USC Upstate’s first over UNC Asheville since late 2022 and their first shutout under coach Michael Antoniewicz.

Spartanburg, S.C. — The USC Upstate Men’s Soccer team achieved a commanding victory over UNC Asheville with a final score of 4-0 on September 20, 2025, marking the team’s opening match in the Big South Conference. This impressive win improves USC Upstate’s overall record to 3-4-1 and gives them a 1-0 standing in conference play, while UNC Asheville falls to 4-2-1, starting their Big South Conference campaign at 0-1.

The match, held at the County University Soccer Stadium, saw a solid performance from the USC Upstate Spartans, highlighted by their strong attacking play and tenacious defense. In the first half, Henry Burt netted his first collegiate goal in the 35th minute, with an assist from Lucas Bergfors, setting the tone for the remainder of the match.

USC Upstate further asserted their dominance in the second half. Just three minutes in, Oskar Kaufmann found the back of the net, assisted by Oscar Kelly and Vitalis Takawira Jr. Kaufmann scored again in the 53rd minute, capitalizing on another assist from Takawira Jr. Despite UNC Asheville’s efforts, including multiple shots from Rodrigo Mendes that were saved by USC Upstate’s goalkeeper, Jarrett Wuerslin, the Spartans continued to hold their ground.

In the closing minutes of the match, Lucas Bergfors added to the scoreline, converting a goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Luke Marin. This victory not only marks USC Upstate’s first win over UNC Asheville since November 2, 2022, but also their ninth win historically against them, leading the series record to 9-5-1.

The shutout achieved during this match is noteworthy; it is the first in the coaching era of Michael Antoniewicz and the first shutout for the team since August 25, 2024. Jarrett Wuerslin recorded his third win and first shutout of the season, showcasing his skills as a reliable guardian of the goal. The match also saw Oskar Kaufmann score two goals, making it the second consecutive match where a Spartan has netted two goals.

Looking ahead, USC Upstate’s next game will take place against Winthrop University on September 27, 2025, at 6:00 PM Eastern time in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Meanwhile, UNC Asheville will continue their schedule with a match against Radford on the same day as part of their Alumni Weekend festivities, following their match against USC Upstate.

The loss for UNC Asheville comes shortly after they observed Mental Health Awareness Night during their match against Cal on September 23, 2025, reflecting their commitment to raising awareness and promoting mental health.

Key Match Statistics

Final Score: USC Upstate 4, UNC Asheville 0
USC Upstate’s Record: 3-4-1 overall, 1-0 in Big South Conference
UNC Asheville’s Record: 4-2-1 overall, 0-1 in Big South Conference
First Half Scoring: 35th minute – Henry Burt (1st Collegiate Goal), assisted by Lucas Bergfors
Second Half Scoring:
- 48th minute – Oskar Kaufmann, assisted by Oscar Kelly and Vitalis Takawira Jr.
- 53rd minute – Oskar Kaufmann (2nd Goal), assisted by Vitalis Takawira Jr.
- 87th minute – Lucas Bergfors, assisted by Luke Marin.

Upcoming Matches

USC Upstate vs. Winthrop University on September 27, 2025
UNC Asheville vs. Radford on September 27, 2025 (Alumni Weekend)

FAQ

What was the final score of the USC Upstate vs. UNC Asheville match?

The final score was USC Upstate 4, UNC Asheville 0.

What was USC Upstate’s record after the match?

USC Upstate’s record improved to 3-4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big South Conference.

Who scored the first goal in the match?

Henry Burt scored the first goal in the 35th minute, assisted by Lucas Bergfors.

Key Features Chart

Feature	Details
Match Date	September 20, 2025
Location	County University Soccer Stadium, Spartanburg, S.C.
USC Upstate’s Record	3-4-1 overall, 1-0 in Big South Conference
UNC Asheville’s Record	4-2-1 overall, 0-1 in Big South Conference
Notable Achievements	First win over UNC Asheville since November 2, 2022 Ninth historical win against UNC Asheville First shutout in the Michael Antoniewicz coaching era Oskar Kaufmann’s brace