UNCG 2, Wofford 1
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The UNCG men’s soccer team became the first team to win on Wofford’s home field since 2013, snapping a 12-game home winning streak by the Terriers as the Spartans posted an impressive 2-1 victory over Southern Conference co-leader Wofford on Tuesday night.
The victory moves the Spartans into second place in the league standings and sets up a showdown between the top two teams in the league Saturday night when UNCG hosts Furman on its Homecoming at 7:30 p.m.
The victory improves the Spartans to 3-1-1 in SoCon play as they leapfrog the Terriers in the standings with 10 points, compared to nine points for Wofford (3-2-0). Senior forward Jacques Francois continued his stellar play of late, scoring a goal and adding an assist. Francois has taken over sole possession of the top spot in the SoCon in scoring with 15 points as he leads the league with five goals and five assists.
The Spartans controlled play in the first half, holding possession for over 70 percent of the first half. UNCG broke through on the scoring column in the 32nd minute of action. Francois made a run down the let-hand side and ripped a shot that Wofford goalkeeper Joe Wichman was able to punch back out.
Redshirt sophomore midfielder Rouven Wahlfeldt was the first player to pounce on the loose ball and poked it through traffic for the 1-0 lead and his first goal of the season.
Wofford came out of the halftime break and tied the game just 50 seconds into the second half as an early Terrier shot was saved by freshman Jon Milligan, but the ball went out for a corner kick. Wofford’s Will Puckett sent a low ball through the box, where Connor Bauknight was there to bury the shot from 8 yards out to tie the game at 1-1.
The Spartans answered back in less than five minutes to retake the lead in the 51st minute of play. Francois took advantage of a Wofford turnover in the box and beat a couple of defenders. He ripped a tough-angle shot from the end line that ripped past Wichman into the back of the net for the 2-1 lead.
The Terriers stay at home this week before starting the second half of their SoCon slate Saturday. The team looks to avenge a loss from earlier this season, facing Mercer at 7 p.m. at Snyder Field.
Mercer 2, VMI 1
LEXINGTON, Va. – The Mercer University men's soccer team tallied a 2-1 victory over VMI on Tuesday afternoon at Patchin Field.
Kobe Perez scored Mercer's first goal of the game in the seventh minute after receiving a cross from Will Bagrou and firing a shot off from 8 yards out. Bagrou added a second goal for the Bears in the 83rd minute after receiving a pass from Alexander Andersson and dribbling through a pair of defenders before aiming for the lower left corner of the goal.
VMI’s Sam Moffatt scored a goal in the 84th minute, but Mercer held on to the lead for a 2-1 win.
Perez scored his second goal of the season, while Bagrou notched his fourth goal and third assist on the year and also tallied his second game-winning goal of the season.
Jeremy Booth recorded four saves on the afternoon, and he allowed just one goal from the Keydets.
Mercer improves to 8-5 on the season and 3-2 in conference action, while VMI moves to 0-13 overall and 0-5 in league play.
Mercer will wrap up its three-game road swing at Wofford on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.
VMI returns to SoCon action Saturday with a 2 p.m. tilt against ETSU at Patchin Field.
Furman 2, ETSU 0
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The ETSU men’s soccer team fell at home on Tuesday to the Furman Paladins 2-0. Furman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute and never looked back, but ETSU had several chances on goal as it took 15 shots to Furman’s eight.
The first goal of the game came early for the Paladins due to a Buccaneer miscue. Furman had a great chance at goal from the left side as Lewis Hawke took his first and only shot in the match. Freshman keeper Jonny Sutherland saved the shot attempt, but the ball got away from the young goalie and sat right in front of the ETSU goal unattended. Josiah Baker of Furman rushed to the ball and beat every Buccaneer for the easy 1-0 lead. Those were the first two shots of the game for the Paladins.
The Paladins were able to extend the lead in the 83rd minute when both teams were tangled up in the ETSU box. The referee called a foul on the Buccaneer defense and awarded Furman a penalty kick. Adrian McInnis took the shot and put it in the left side of the net for his first goal of the season.
The Bucs fall to 4-5-2 overall and 1-3-1 in SoCon play, and Furman regains the top spot in the conference with its 4-1 record in SoCon matches.
ETSU will hit the road for their third SoCon round trip this season. The Bucs will square off with the VMI Keydets on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Lexington, Va.
Furman is back in action Saturday at UNCG at 7:30 p.m.