NEWBERRY, S.C. - Sam Upshaw (Middletown, Ohio) scored two goals, including the game-winner with under one minute remaining in the second overtime, to lift Lenoir-Rhyne College over host Newberry College, 2-1, in two overtimes this afternoon in Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament first round action. With the win, Lenoir-Rhyne (8-8-3) advances to the semifinals to face the winner of the Presbyterian College/Catawba College game. The Lady Indians end the season with a 7-7-2 overall record.
Newberry dominated the game early on, keeping the ball on the Lenoir-Rhyne side of the field. As the game progressed, though, the Bears were able to get more good opportunities. Sophomore forward Inga Woiwode (El Paso, Texas) threatened the Lenoir-Rhyne goal several times during the half, but keeper Nicole Ley (Cupertino, Calif.) made one of several key saves to prevent a goal. The Bears started to gain more possessions later in the half, which resulted in the first goal of the game. Upshaw cleaned up a loose ball from Riana Lange (Richmond, Va.) over the head of keeper Danielle Beckerle (St. Louis, Mo.) in the 36th minute, making the score 1-0.
The Lady Indians picked up the intensity at the start of the second half, en route to several promising attacks on goal. However, the ladies were unable to connect until late in the half. In the 73rd minute, Woiwode teed up a corner kick, which bounced around several times in the Lenoir-Rhyne box. Ashleigh Mayer (St. Peters, Mo.) and Katelyn Luby (Charleston, S.C.) both made header attempts, but it was Megan Dietel (St. Charles, Mo.) who found the ball at her feet for the goal. Newberry played with a new energy and a new sense of urgency late in the game, but neither team could cap late rallies, sending the game into overtime for the second time this season.
Both teams dug deep to keep going strong in the overtime periods. In the first overtime, Newberry defender Greta Hewett (Charleston, S.C.) got knocked down in the Lenoir-Rhyne box after a late run down the sideline, which resulted in a Newberry penalty kick opportunity. Woiwode, who scored the game-winner in double overtime against the Bears on October 15, took the PK for the Lady Indians, but Ley made a quick save to prolong the game. Newberry's rebound attempt went out-of-bounds.
Play continued to go back and forth in the second overtime as both teams made threats of their own. The game looked like it was headed to a shootout, but Upshaw had another thing in mind. With under a minute to play in the overtime, Upshaw again took a pass from Lange, via a Cory Livesay (Round Hill, Va.) corner kick, to notch the game winner in the 110th minute.
Newberry out shot the Bears 14-9 and attempted four corner kicks to Lenoir-Rhyne's one. Ley came up big for the Bears as she recorded eight saves. Beckerle finished the game with two stops.
SAC Tournament action continues this weekend, as Newberry will host the semifinal and championship games. Lenoir-Rhyne is set to take on the Presbyterian/Catawba winner at noon on November 4, while the Wingate/Carson-Newman winner will face the Mars Hill/Tusculum winner at 3 p.m. on November 4. The championship match is scheduled for 1 p.m. on November 5.
