Date Posted: 10/8/2007

MACON, Ga. – USC Upstate had been going through growing pains in its first year playing at the Division I level. After 27 spectacular seasons with no losing seasons, the Spartans had started Division-I play at 0-8. They welcomed the A-Sun’s Nashville, Tenn. schools to Spartanburg, S.C. and dispatched the pair for its first two wins as a Division I school. Leading the way were Troy Simon on offense and Jason McCabe in net. Their efforts earned the teammates the offensive and defensive Player of the Week awards, as announced by the conference office on Monday.

In Friday’s win against Lipscomb, Simon assisted on a pair of goals. With the Spartans leading 1-0, Simon gained possession at midfield and made a move to set up a 2-on-1 break. Simon made a pass to Jack Burridge who scored Upstate’s second goal. Late in the second half, with the Spartans’ lead cut to 3-2, Simon assisted on the game’s final goal, playing a cross that David Acosta deposited into the back of the net. McCabe, a freshman from Irmo, S.C., made the lead hold up by recording a career-high 10 saves.

Two days later against Belmont, after a frantic 15 minutes in the second half saw the Spartans lose a 1-0 lead only to tie the game back at two; Simon, a native of Freeman's Village, Antigua blasted home a shot in from 22 yards out in the 83rd minute for the game’s deciding goal. The goal was Simon’s second of the season and third of his career, a career that was interrupted in 2006 when he missed all but four games to a torn ACL. McCabe was again strong in net despite allowing the two second-half goals. He made nine more saves, giving him 19 in the two games. Included in his effort were three dramatic saves in the first half that kept the Bruins off the scoreboard.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers

Anton Axelsson, JU (Sr. - F - Vaxjo, Sweden - Psychology and Philosophy) -- Scored two goals against Mercer, including the game-winner; has captained JU to a 3-1 start in the A-Sun.

Andrew Calise, UNF (Fr. - GK - Winter Park, Fla. - Political Science) -- Recorded third shutout of A-Sun play this season; allowed just one goal in four conference games; Recorded 15 saves this weekend.

Akil DeFreitas, UNF (Fr. - F - Port of Spain, Trinidad - Business) -- Scored the winning goal in UNF's 1-0 upset of preseason favorite Campbell over the weekend.

Anthony Forde, FGCU (Fr. - F - Odessa, Fla. - Undeclared) -- In 3-0 win over FAU, Forde scored his third and fourth goals of the year less than two minutes apart in the 88th and 90th minutes.

Adam Glick, FGCU (Fr. - GK - Leola, Pa. - Business/Marketing) -- Led Eagles to a 1-1 record; in FGCU's 3-0 win over FAU, Glick recorded three saves while registering his second consecutive shutout.

Related Links:
 • This Week in A-Sun Men's Soccer