In the second trip of the season to the peach state, the Spartans came away with a better result as they battled the Georgia State Panthers to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes on Saturday night at Panthersville Stadium.
The two teams battled to a scoreless draw at halftime and the two teams combined for just seven shots. After halftime, the Panthers got on the board first when Alex Vivanco scored in the 52nd-minute. Vivanco scored his first goal of the season as he put his penalty kick past Upstate goalkeeper Jason McCabe (Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork).
The Panthers nearly pushed its lead to 2-0 just two minutes later, but Vivanco's header off of Tim Nixon's corner kick went wide.
Upstate tied the match at one in the 72nd-minute when Maurice Beggs (Arima, Trinidad/Middle Georgia) scored his first goal of the season. Beggs put his shot into the back of the net off of a cross from teammate Tim Bailey (Simpsonville, S.C./Southern Wesleyan).
In the first overtime period, Beggs' shot in the 99th-minute, that would have given the Spartans the victory, was saved by GSU keeper Vincent Foermer. In the second overtime period, Timo Foerster (Oberkirk, Germany/Hans Furler Gymnasium) and John Kadane (Garland, Texas/John Paul II) both had their shots denied by GSU's Foermer.
In the match, the Panthers outshot the Spartans 15-8, but both teams directed four shots at the goal. Both goalkeepers tallied three saves in the match on Saturday night. GSU also owned the advantage in corner kicks (7-2). Upstate was called for 17 fouls, with GSU being whistled for 16.
Upstate will return to action on Tuesday night when they host Presbyterian College in the Spartans home opener. Kick-off between the Spartans and Blue Hose is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at County University Soccer Stadium.