UNCG 2, Mercer 1 (OT)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG men’s soccer freshman midfielder Matteo Busio picked the perfect time to score his first career goal as Busio notched the game-winning goal in the 95th minute of play to lead the Spartans to a 2-1 overtime victory over defending Southern Conference regular-season champion Mercer on Tuesday night at the UNCG Soccer Stadium in the league opener for both teams.
The Spartans (5-4-1, 1-0-0 SoCon) controlled play from the start of the overtime period, looking for the clinching goal. Just over four minutes into the extra period, Busio took the ball near midfield and made a Mercer defender miss as he kicked it through his legs. The move shot Busio off to the races down the middle of the field as the defenders were on their heels. He approached the 18-yard box and ripped a shot from 22 yards out that sailed past Mercer goalkeeper Jeremy Booth and into the side netting for the game-winning goal.
Senior goalkeeper Logan Rohde picked up the victory as he finished with four saves, including some pivotal stops down the stretch in the second half. Rohde may have had the biggest play of the game in the 88th minute of play as he stopped reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year Will Bagrou on a clear breakaway to preserve the tie in regulation.
The Spartans jumped out to the early lead, finding the back of the net just 3:07 into the game. Senior midfielder Ben Burdon stole the ball from a Mercer midfielder and made a long run down the right-hand side. Burdon got past a defender and sent a low cross to the top of the six-yard box. Senior forward Jacques Francois was there to bury the cross into the back of the net past Booth for a 1-0 lead.
The Bears would tie the game in the 63rd minute of play as UNCG was whistled for a foul in the box, awarding a penalty kick to Mercer. Conner Antley stepped up to the spot and buried his penalty kick for his fourth goal of the year, tying the game at 1-1.
UNCG returns to action Saturday afternoon as it travels to rival Furman. Game time in Greenville is set for 1:30 p.m. and marks the Spartans’ first road game in league play this year.
Mercer is back in action Saturday when it hosts Wofford at 2 p.m.
Wofford 3, ETSU 2 (2OT)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Defender Connor Davis headed home a game-winning goal in double overtime to give the Wofford men’s soccer team its first Southern Conference victory of the season Tuesday night, a 3-2 win over ETSU at Snyder Field.
Just a minute and change into double overtime, Wofford (6-1-1, 1-0-0 SoCon) was awarded a corner kick. Midfielder Jonathan Dean lined up the kick and found Davis in the box, who headed it into the left side of the net past Buccaneer keeper Jonny Sutherland in the 102nd minute. It was Davis's third goal of the season and the 18th of his career.
The Terriers were down 2-0 early in the first half. A foul in the box on Davis awarded ETSU with a penalty kick opportunity, which midfielder James Smith shot right while Terrier goalkeeper Joe Wichmann dove the other way. The goal was Smith’s fourth of the season.
The Buccaneers (3-3-1, 0-1-0 SoCon) scored again in the 29th minute. Defender Fletcher Ekern dribbled past two Wofford defenders on the right side of the box and shot the ball past Wichmann into the center of the net, giving ETSU a 2-0 lead at halftime, the largest deficit Wofford had faced all season.
The halftime adjustments worked for Wofford, as the team took a flurry of shots in the second half, and its break came in the 69th minute.
Forward Matthew Ward took the ball down the left side of the field and centered the ball to midfielder Connor Donohue. Donohue took one touch and fired a shot that scored Wofford’s first goal of the night. The goal was Donohue’s second of the season.
Less than 30 seconds later, forward Matthew Aurednik was fouled hard in the box and was consequently awarded a penalty kick. Aurednik converted the kick for his fourth goal of the season, tying the match up at 2-2. The goal was also Aurednik’s 19th goal of his career, tying him with teammate Nestor Jaramillo on Wofford’s career goals list.
The Buccaneers played with 10 men in the overtime period after a second yellow card and a red card were issued to defender Corentin Ohlmann with one second left in regulation.
Wichmann earned the victory in net for the Terriers, playing all 102 minutes in net and racking up five saves. Sutherland took the loss for the Buccaneers, finishing the match with four saves.
The win extended Wofford’s home unbeaten streak to 14 straight games, dating back to the 2013 season. The last team to beat the Terriers at home was ETSU, a 3-2 OT loss on Nov. 5, 2013.
The Terriers travel to Macon, Ga., for their next contest, as the team faces Mercer on Saturday at 2 p.m. ETSU hosts VMI on Friday at 5 p.m.
VMI at Pittsburgh postponed
PITTSBURGH – Due to inclement weather, Tuesday night’s nonconference game between the VMI men’s soccer team and the host Pitt Panthers has been postponed to Wednesday, Sept. 30, with kickoff set for noon at Ambrose Urbanic Field.