BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The South Carolina State soccer team broke a three-match slide Friday with a 3-1 victory over USC Upstate in the opening round of the 2009 Border Classic hosted by Gardner-Webb University.

Coach Glad Bugariu's team, which improved to 2-3 on the season, got two goals from freshman Dani Benton and one from junior Brook Ehinger in earning the victory.

Upstate (0-6-0) scored in the first four minutes to take a 1-0 lead, when junior Catherine Nolff scored off of a corner kick from teammate Alyssa Roegner. It would be the only goal of the match for the Spartans

SC State (2-3-0) responded four minutes later when Benton, of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., scored unassisted to tie the match at 1-1. The Bulldogs added another goal less than 10 minutes later when Ehinger, of Long Beach, Calif., scored what proved to be the game-winning goal as SC State took a 2-1 lead.

The score remained unchanged until the 63rd-minute of the match when Benton scored her second goal of the match. She was assisted by freshman Alejandra Chirino of Los Angeles as the Lady Bulldogs set the final margin at 3-1.

The Spartans and the Lady Bulldogs each tallied 15 shots in the match. SC State owned a 7-5 advantage in the first half, while Upstate had a 10-8 advantage in the second half. Six of Upstate's shots were directed at the goal, while SC State totaled seven shots on goal. For the match, Upstate owned an advantage of 8-2 in corner kicks.

SC State will play Gardner Webb in the second day of the Border Classic Sunday at 4 p.m.

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