UNCG Eliminates No. 2 Seed Virginia, Advances to NCAA Third Round

UNCG 2, No. 2 Virginia 2 (UNCG Advances, 4-3, on Penalty Kicks)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – UNC Greensboro went on the road late Sunday afternoon and advanced past No. 2 seed Virginia on penalty kicks after playing to a 2-2 draw in regulation.

The Spartans (12-4-5) led 2-1 after 45 minutes, striking first on an Issah Haruna goal in the fifth minute. Haruna scored off a pass from Daniel Longo. The Cavaliers (12-2-5) knotted the score in the 15th minute, but Pablo Torre made good use of a nice pass from Haruna in the 39th minute to give the visitors another lead.

Outstanding play between the posts by All-SoCon keeper Seth Wilson kept UNCG in front for much of the second half, but a foul call in the box led to a penalty kick chance for Virginia, and Nicholas Simmonds connected for his 10th goal in the 80th minute for a 2-2 score. Wilson finished with 10 saves in the match.

The equalizer came less than three minutes after Haruna had a golden chance blocked by the Cavaliers' defense. The Spartans' defense came through down the stretch to keep the score level, turning away a flurry of activity from the home side. Virginia's Brendan Lambe had a shot blocked in the 89th minute (88:33), and Wilson saved his shot off the carom three seconds later to send the game to overtime.

UNCG and Virginia played to a 1-1 draw during their regular-season battle in Charlottesville, but penalty kicks were in store after two scoreless extra periods on Sunday.

Arnaud Tattevin led off with a successful attempt to give UNCG an early edge, and Virginia's Simmonds clanged his chance off the corner of the crossbar. The two sides traded successful attempts, but a save by Virginia's Casper Mols left the door open – and the Cavaliers' Jesus De Vicente connected to make the tally even at 3-3.

Kimito Fritz, who produced the deciding penalty kick in Thursday's successful result against Elon, was accurate again on the Spartans' final attempt for a 4-3 advantage.

Virginia's chance to stay in the fight sailed high, well over the crossbar, and the Spartans advanced to play at NC State in the third round next Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 pm.

Sunday's meeting in Raleigh will be the third consecutive rematch for UNCG from the regular season. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in Raleigh on October 21.