SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team could not withstand a second-half surge from USC Upstate on Saturday night, and the Norse fell to the Spartans, 2-1, in Atlantic Sun Conference action. 
 
The Norse looked to be moving the ball well in the opening half, and they looked comfortable with the pace of the game. NKU took charge of the match early when Nick McGregor scored his second career goal in the 13th minute. Diego Martinez took a corner kick for NKU, and the Spartan defenders cleared it into the feet of McGregor. McGregor struck the ball with his left foot from 25 yards out, and it sailed into the top left corner of the goal.
 
 
NKU felt comfortable with the 1-0 lead, and they continued to press ahead throughout the opening 45 minutes. The Norse earned a free kick in the 18th minute and nearly doubled their lead. Cian McDonald took a long free kick for NKU, and Ian O'Reilly jumped up to meet the ball with his head. O'Reilly drove the ball hard towards the goal, but USC Upstate's Jack Rubin was in position to make the save.
 
McDonald had one more change to give the Norse another goal in the 44th minute, but he could not direct his strike on target.  NKU outshot Upstate, 4-2, in the opening half. McGregor's goal gave the Norse the 1-0 lead heading into the break. It was the second game in a row that NKU scored first in a match.
 
The Norse looked to be in control as the second half started, but USC Upstate took control of the game as the clock counted down. The Spartans' Marvin Schmiege equalized for his side in the 71st minute. Schmiege received a pass from Tucker Beerman from just outside the box, and he cut inside. Schmiege powered a left-footed shot past Toby Frohlich.
 
NKU nearly got one back in the 73rd minute. McDonald took a free kick for the Norse from 30-yards out. He powered a shot that dipped at the last second, forcing Rubin to make an awkward save by tipping the ball over the crossbar. It was the last shot NKU took in the match.
 
Schmiege proved to be the hero of the day for the Spartans when he netted the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute. Heiko Allmendinger led a counter attack for the Spartans, and he passed the ball forward to Schmiege in space. Schmiege broke down the left side of the pitch, cutting inside and blasting a shot past Frohlich from inside the penalty area.
 
The Norse never found an equalizer, and they fell to 3-8-4 overall and 0-3-1 in the Atlantic Sun. NKU has two A-Sun games remaining on their schedule. The Norse host Stetson on Nov. 1 and travel to North Florida on Nov. 8. NKU sits two points behind USC Upstate in the conference table.
 
NKU returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 29 against Eastern Illinois in Highland Heights, Kentucky.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the NKU Soccer Stadium. It will be the last nonconference match for the Norse this season.