UNCG 3, Wofford 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men’s soccer team took over sole possession of first place in the Southern Conference standings heading into the final week of the regular season as the Spartans posted a convincing 3-0 victory over league foe Wofford on Saturday night on Senior Night at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
The victory completes the season series sweep for the Spartans against the Terries as UNCG improves to 21-4-1 all-time against Wofford.
Prior to the game, the Spartans honored their six seniors with a pregame ceremony. UNCG recognized the careers of Evan Rees, Ben Burdon, Christopher Reingen, Jacques Francois, Corey Croegaert and Noah DeAngelo.
The victory improves the Spartans to 9-5-3 overall on the year and 5-1-2 in SoCon play as they run their unbeaten streak to six straight games at 4-0-2. Additionally, the Spartans now have 17 points in the league standings, leap-frogging Furman for first place as the Paladins have 16 points at 5-2-1 after falling to ETSU on Friday. UNCG also now also owns a four-point lead for one of the two byes in the SoCon Championship with two games left to play.
UNCG struck for the game’s first goal in the 59th minute of play as Damieon Thomas was hauled down in the box, awarding the Spartans a penalty kick. Freshman midfielder Matteo Busio stepped up for his first career try from the spot and buried the kick past Wofford keeper Garrett Closs for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
UNCG broke through for its second goal of the game in the 66th minute of action. Francois made a run down the right-hand side and was able to beat three Wofford defenders before turning the end line. He sent a cross into the box where it found Leeroy Maguraushe from 6 yards out and he tapped it into the net for his team-leading sixth goal of the year. The assist was Francois’ league-leading seventh of the season, raising his SoCon-leading total to 17 points.
The Spartans rounded out the victory in the 82nd minute as their third different freshman scored a goal. This time, Busio made a run down the middle before finding Matt Mattis making a diagonal run. Mattis cut toward goal and from a tough angle, rocketed a shot past Closs into the top corner for his first career collegiate goal and a 3-0 lead.
Freshman goalkeeper Jon Milligan improved to 4-0-2 in his career as he has been in goal for the entirety of the Spartans’ league-best six-game unbeaten streak. Milligan recorded four saves in 90 minutes to pick up his third shutout of the year. He lowered his goals against average on the season to 0.62 in 580 minutes of play. Closs finished with six saves in the loss for the Terriers.
The Spartans will close out the home portion of the regular season Tuesday night when they host VMI. Game time is set for 7 p.m. as UNCG is looking for its third season-series sweep, having already swept Wofford and Mercer.
Wofford returns home for its final home match of the regular season Tuesday night against Furman. The Terriers will hold Senior Day celebrations before the match begins, which is set for 7 p.m.
Mercer 2, VMI 1
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University men's soccer team defeated VMI, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon.
After a scoreless first half, Jordan Duru gave Mercer (9-6-1, 4-3-1 SoCon) a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute with a shot from just outside the goal off a long serve from Mark Riggins. The Bears went up 2-0 in the 52nd minute when a VMI defender knocked the ball in the net while trying to block a serve.
With 15 minutes remaining in the game, the Keydets (0-16, 0-8 SoCon) got on the scoreboard as freshman Grant Austin headed in a free kick by Hunter Morgan from the right side to cut the lead, but Mercer held VMI off in the final minutes to emerge victorious.
Duru’s goal was his fourth of the season and the seventh of his career. Riggins dished out his first assist of the season as well as the first of his career.
Jeremy Booth made three saves and allowed just one goal while between the posts for the Bears. VMI keeper Alex Guerra picked up the loss despite five saves.
Mercer held an 8-4 shots on goal advantage. The Bears also led the Keydets in corner kicks, 8-0.
Mercer has now won five of its last six Senior Day matches.
The Bears will play their final home game of the season on Tuesday when they host ETSU at 7 p.m.
The Keydets stay on the road with a Tuesday matchup at UNCG. Kickoff with the Spartans is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina.