CHARLESTON, S.C. - The College of Charleston men's soccer team opened up its preseason schedule with a 4-1 victory over USC Upstate at Patriots Point on Sunday evening. 

In his first appearance for The College, Moussa Diarra led the line by opening the scoring and gathering two assists with Jake Nicholson, Tucker Heffron and Curren Page all adding a goal apiece. 

Nicholson had the first opportunity for Charleston in the 4th minute but his half volley from the edge of the box flashed past the right post. 

In the 14th minute The College took the lead with Joao de Souza splitting the defense with a through ball and Diarra rounding the goalkeeper and slotting into the bottom right corner for his first goal as a Cougar. 

Three minutes later the lead was doubled with Diarra turning provider by laying the ball to Page at the edge of the box who smashed it first time into the bottom left corner.

In the 42nd minute Marcelo Malpartida was bundled over in the box; Heffron obliged from the penalty spot to make it three. 

With four minutes left Diarra split the defense with Nicholson calmly slotting into the bottom right corner from just inside the box to push the lead to four. 

The Spartans managed to pull a goal back in the extra period of play with a header into the top corner, but Charleston saw the final minutes out comfortably to take the 4-1 win. 

Notables
• Diarra scored once and set up two in his first appearance for the College of Charleston
• Diarra, Nicholson, Temi Adesodun and Peter Dearle all played over 100 minutes in the exhibition; Dearle as a freshman 
• In 90 minutes, goalkeeper Cameron Smith only made one save in his first game for The College
• 27 players made their seasonal appearances for head coach Ralph Lundy

Up Next
Lundy and his squad now look to two exhibition games in a week as they face Davidson and Wofford on the road Wednesday [4:00 p.m.] and Sunday [6:00 p.m.] to close out the preseason slate.