Seventh-Seeded Spartans’ Magical Run Continues With 2-1 Win
SoCon Men's Soccer Championship Page
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Davidson, N.C. ? Seventh-seeded UNC Greensboro’s improbable run through the Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship culminated in the program’s third league title in the past four seasons with a 2-1 win over No. 5 seed College of Charleston Sunday afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Davidson, N.C.
With the win, UNCG (8-11-2) earns the SoCon’s automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship. The men’s soccer selection show will air in the 6:00-6:30 window Monday (Nov. 17) evening on ESPNews.
Corey Maret opened the scoring seconds before the end of the first half when he corralled a bouncing ball in the box and slotted a shot in the lower right corner, underneath a diving Clark Hankins.
Matt Morris equalized in the 55th minute by heading a Zach Prince corner kick into the upper right corner. The goal was Morris’ ninth of the season.
The tie score was short-lived however as Tebatso Manyama put the Spartans back ahead, 2-1, just 58 seconds later at the 55:31 mark. Maret was credited with the assist as he found a streaking Manyama on a breakaway, and the senior forward blasted the game-winner past Hankins from 12 yards out.
The Spartans owned a 12-10 advantage in shots on the afternoon, included a 7-3 lead in shots on goal.
Hankins stopped five shots for Charleston (12-9-0) while UNCG’s Nate Berry collected two saves.
As the tournament’s seventh seed, UNC Greensboro is the lowest seeded team to ever win the SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship.
2008 SoCon Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Steven Kinney, Elon
Justin Wyatt, Elon
Joe Madigan, Georgia Southern
Austin Steele, Georgia Southern
Matt Morris, College of Charleston
Justin Fojo, College of Charleston
Kareem Yearwood, College of Charleston
Jokull Elisabetarson, UNC Greensboro
Tebatso Manyama, UNC Greensboro
Tim Masters, UNC Greensboro
Joe Burnett, UNC Greensboro
Most Outstanding Player: Joe Burnett, UNC Greensboro