MORROW, GA. --- After a scoreless a first half, 18th-ranked USC Upstate exploded for three second-half goals en route to a 3-0 victory over Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5) in the Peach Belt Conference Men's Soccer Tournament semifinals, hosted by Clayton State University.

FMU ends its season with an 8-11-1 record, despite playing a brutal schedule that saw the Patriots face eight nationally ranked opponents in the final 12 matches.  The third-seeded Spartans improve to 13-2-2 and advance to the PBC Tournament title match for the 14th time in 15 years. USC Upstate will face tournament host Clayton State, a 1-0 winner over North Georgia College & State University in Saturday's opening semifinal, in Sunday's championship match.

Saturday's opening half was scoreless despite the Spartans holding a commanding 11-1 edge in shots.  Eight minutes into the second stanza, USC Upstate's All-Peach Belt Conference tandem of Jorge Atehortua and Liam Slack combined for a goal. Atehortua took a pass from Slack for the score, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead. The goal for Atehortua tied him with Slack for the team lead with 11 on the season, while Slack's assist gave him nine on the year.

The Spartans added some insurance in the 72nd minute with a goal from Ben Modeste, who corralled a loose ball in the Francis Marion box after the Patriot defense was unable to clear the ball. Modeste fired a shot from less than eight yards out past FMU senior goalkeeper Jonathan Runion. USC Upstate's Troy Simon was credited with the assist on the play.

The Spartans pushed their lead to 3-0 in the final minute of the match with David Stovall scoring an acrobatic goal, where he left his feet, firing a right-footed shot past the keeper from less than 10 yards out. The play was setup on a cross from Chris Baretta.

USC Upstate controlled much the play on Saturday out shooting the Patriots 24-4. FMU's Runion had eight saves to end his record-setting career, while USC Upstate's Ryan Cooper had two stops.  Runion leaves FMU holding the team's career records for matches started in goal (66), matches played in goal (72), minutes played in goal (6,446), and saves (382).  His season saves total of 134 is the fourth best mark in PBC history, and his career saves total is second-best.

Five other Patriot seniors also played their final match on Saturday: backs Mike Greenaway and Andy Conrad and midfielders Anthony Addorisio, Brendan Chick, and Valentine Baker.

USC Upstate (13-2-2) def. Francis Marion Univ. (8-11-1)   3-0

Date: Nov. 5, 2005 ; Attendance: 125

Weather: partly cloudy, 75 degrees

Goals by period         1     2     Tot

-------------------------------------------------

Francis Marion Univ.   0     0     - 0

USC Upstate             0      3    - 3

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0    53:08 UPSTATE     Atehortua, Jorge (Slack, Liam)

2-0    72:32 UPSTATE     Modeste, Ben (Simon, Troy) - pass, shot five yards

3-0    88:57 UPSTATE     Stovall, David (Baretta, Chris) - cross, shot five yards

Shots: Francis Marion 4, USC Upstate 24 ; Saves: Francis Marion 8 (Runion, Jonathan 8), USC Upstate 2 (Cooper, Ryan 2)