UNC Greensboro 3, Davidson 2 (OT)
DAVIDSON, N.C. Thomas Campbell?s header with seven seconds remaining in the first overtime off a Mike Richardson corner kick lifted UNC Greensboro to a 3-2 victory over Southern Conference rival Davidson in men?s soccer action Tuesday evening at Alumni Stadium. The win improves the Spartans to 6-4-1 overall and 1-0-1 in SoCon play, while Davidson drops its fourth straight to fall to 4-7-0 and 0-2-0 in the league.
“This game is always an intense rivalry and could have gone either way,” stated Wildcat head coach Matt Spear. “We pushed as hard as we could for the win and didn?t want to settle for anything less. All conference games our very tough and competitive and we loss to a very good team tonight.”
The Wildcats had the first real chance to connect on a golden-goal with 3:20 remaining in the extra session, but Robby Hoak’s second free kick of the contest from just outside the box was blocked.
Campbell?s 100th minute score was the second UNCG goal of the evening that was set up by a corner kick, both of which were served into the box by Richardson, who finished the contest with a goal of his own and a pair of assists.
Davidson grabbed the game’s first lead thanks to Machel Turner’s second goal of his debut campaign. The 62nd minute strike was assisted by fellow freshman A.J. Grant who flicked the ball on to Turner, which created the Grand Cayman Islands native?s one-on-one chip shot over the Spartans’ keeper Nate Berry.
“Machel is a special player and is definitely showing what he can do at this level. He played very brave tonight and showed an awful lot of courage and speed, considering he?s been battling a nagging injury.”
It didn?t take UNCG long to equalize as it found the net just over five minutes later. Michael Fitzgerald played a through ball to Richardson on the left side and the midfielder lofted a shot finding the back right corner of the frame.
Hermann Trophy candidate Randi Patterson broke the 1-1 tie in the 83rd minute with a one touch off Richardson’s corner from the far side.
Following a UNC Greensboro foul just past midfield, Davidson’s Charlie Reiter set a ball into the box from about 40 yards out to Grant, who headed it home for his first career goal and to tie the game at 2-2 with just 2:54 remaining in regulation.
” thought A.J. Grant showed a lot of his versatility playing both defense and forward tonight, and was a threat in the final third.”
UNC Greensboro doubled the Wildcats’ shot total with a 20-10 advantage.
Robby Goldsberry recorded six saves in goal for Davidson, while Berry stopped one of his own.
Davidson had a pair of great scoring chances in the first period, but were unable to capitalize. Just 5:30 into the match, Clinton Smith flicked a header on to Turner, who drew a foul at the top of the 18. Wildcat defender Hoak came forward to take the free kick, but his strike was block by UNCG's seven-man wall. With 12 ticks remaining in the period, Mac Wilkie ripped a shot from the left side that was turned away from Spartan keeper Berry.
Like the ?Cats, UNC Greensboro worked hard to set up a couple good looks in the opening 45 minutes, but came up empty as the two teams each attempted four shots in the first half.
Davidson will begin its longest road trip (five games) of the slate Sept. 30 in a 6 p.m. kick-off at SoCon foe College of Charleston. The Spartans return to action this weekend as well when they entertain Elon at 7 p.m. Saturday.
“Given the circumstances I thought our guys played incredibly hard and incredibly well and I?m more proud of them after this game than I have been after any other match this year,” said Spear.
Davidson only dressed a limited roster of 15 players, due to internal decisions.
#8 Wake Forest 2, Appalachian State 1
September 26, 2006 - WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Appalachian State men’s soccer gave No. 8 Wake Forest all it could handle for 90 minutes, but the Demon Deacons pulled away to claim a 2-1 victory Tuesday evening at Spry Stadium. The game was a defensive struggle all evening with Wake Forest holding a slim 13-10 advantage in shots.
The loss drops ASU to 5-4 on the season while the Demon Deacons improve to 8-2.
Wake Forest drew first blood with a goal in the 19th minute off a corner kick from Ryan Solle that found the side of the net. WFU maintained the 1-0 advantage through halftime until Juan Obregon (Castle Rock, Colo.) tied the match in the 57th minute with a free kick into the box that wasn't played by the WFU defense and bounced past the keeper to even the match at 1-1. The goal was Obregon's fifth of the season.
The Mountaineers battled throughout the second half, outshooting Wake Forest 8-7 in the period, but the Deacons broke the stalemate in the 62nd minute. WFU's Wells Thompson knocked in a one-timer from Michael Lahoud for the gamewinner. Zack Schilawaski was also credited with an assist on the play.
Obregon, who came off the bench, led the Mountaineers with three shots on the evening. McCoy Livingston (Charlotte, N.C.), Michael Walters (Raleigh, N.C.) and Todd Topolka (Greensboro, N.C.) each had two shots. Steven Curfman had three shots for the Deacons.
Greg Walters (Raleigh, N.C.) made three saves in the loss, while the ASU defense was credited with a team save. WFU's Brian Edwards only needed one save for the win.
The Mountaineers will resume their Southern Conference season on Saturday, September 30 when they travel to Spartanburg, S.C. to face Wofford in a 6 p.m. match. The Mountaineers are 10-0-1 all-time against the Terriers.
#5 North Carolina 1, Elon 0 (OT)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Freshman forward Bill Dworsky scored on a rebound shot just over five minutes into overtime, and senior goalkeeper Justin Hughes made a season-high five saves to lift No. 5 North Carolina to a 1-0 victory over visiting Elon Tuesday at Fetzer Field. It was the second consecutive season that the Phoenix (8-3-1) and Tar Heels (9-2-0) had to go into overtime.
Dworksy's game-winner came on a follow from a saved shot by Tar Heel defender David Boole, who fired a strike from 25 yards that was saved by Elon keeper Taylor Saxe. Dworsky corralled the rebound and scored from five yards out into the lower left-hand corner of the net to give the Tar Heels their 10th win all-time over the Phoenix.
The goal was the first of Dworksy's collegiate career, and Boole's assist was his first on the season.
Hughes picked up his fifth shutout of the season and the 18th of his career with the five saves, including a pair towards the end of regulation to help send the match to overtime. Saxe made five saves for Elon.
After neither team managed much offensively in the first half, Carolina opened the second frame with back-to-back-to-back shot attempts but could not find the back of the net. The Tar Heels outshot the Phoenix, 10-4, in the second half, and nearly won the match in regulation with a flurry of three shots in the 80th minute. Scott Campbell sent the second of his two shots off the post, and an Elon defender made a back save on a Zach Loyd shot to keep UNC off the board.
The Phoenix, who had only four shots in the first 87 minutes, put two shots on goal in the 88th minute, but Hughes made two stops.
The Tar Heels outshot Elon on the night, 17-7, and held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
Elon returns to SoCon play when the Phoenix visits UNC Greensboro at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night.