The 1989 UNC Greensboro men’s soccer team produced a pivotal chapter in the program’s storied history, bridging the program’s dominant NCAA Division III era --featuring five national titles -- and its arrival in Division I in 1991.
Competing in the second of three seasons in Division II, the 1989 Spartans posted a 19-4-1 record and finished as the Division II national runner-up. They were coached by Michael Parker, the winningest coach in the team’s history and a 2005 UNCG Hall of Fame inductee.
In the national playoffs, UNCG defeated the University of Tampa (Fla.) 2-1 and Gannon University (Pa.) 4-2 before losing to New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University) 3-1 in the finals. All three games were at home on the Campus Field, where the UNCG Soccer Stadium is now located.
The squad was tied for the No. 1 ranking nationally by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America (ISAA) in the final poll.
Jason Haupt ’91, a First Team All-American and 2001 UNCG Hall of Fame inductee, led the nation (all divisions) in scoring with 29 goals and 8 assists in 1989. His goal total as a junior still stands as the team’s season record and his 77 goals in four years as the career record.
Hilmar Bjornsson ’93, a Second Team All-Region selection and 2023 UNCG Hall of Fame inductee, had a team-high 17 assists as a freshman in 1989, on the way to a career record of 62 in four years. He scored the lone goal in the 1989 championship final.
Haupt and Bill Sutherland ’90 were named First Team All-Region and Mark Fulk ’93 joined Bjornsson on the Second Team. UNCG was not conference affiliated in Division II. Bjornsson enjoyed a 12-year professional soccer career, Haupt, eight, and Fulk, two.
The Spartans scored 102 goals and made 75 assists as a team, second-most in season records, and their 19 wins and 10 shutouts are tied for fourth-most all time. The team holds the seventh-best season winning percentage (.812).
The 1989 squad was one of the most competitive teams in the region. In games against Division I in-state opponents, UNCG defeated UNC Chapel Hill 4-3 (OT) and Wake Forest University 1-0 and lost to N.C. State University 2-0 and Duke University 3-1. The team began the longest scoring streak in program history, 35 games from 1989-91.
The Spartans’ success in 1989 paved the way for the arrival at the Division I level, where the team has continued to be highly ranked and make NCAA Tournament appearances as a respected force in college soccer.
*All stats were as of the date of induction.
