Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. -- The UNCG men's soccer team used three first-half goals, two from senior Cliff Patterson, to hold off The University of South Florida, 4-3, in game two of the AmeriSuites/Reebok South Florida Soccer Classic.
USF opened the scoring in the 13th minute, as senior Gabe Salgado chipped a ball into the box to fellow senior Jeff Thwaites, who froze the keeper with a full-volley from close range.
The Spartans equalized just eight minutes later as a quick counter-attack turned into a penalty kick that senior Chris Goos coolly struck into the left side-netting.
UNCG then took the lead in the 31st minute, as a poor clearance by USF's defense set-up a one-time strike for a scavenging Cliff Patterson. That lead vanished just seconds later, however, as Hunter West scored his fourth goal in as many games to knot the score at 2-2. Taking a well-played though-ball from teammate Aaron Ortega, West shielded his man and let the ball roll past, setting himself up for a one-on-one situation with Spartan goalkeeper Joe Crump and beating him to the far post.
Patterson struck again just three minutes before the break. Dribbling down the left side, UNCG's Egill Atlason served a ball to an unmarked Patterson, who nodded the cross past a helpless Troy Perkins and into the back of the net.
The Spartans opened the second half in the same fashion, as Goos widened the gap with a 47th minute goal. With his team now down two goals, West answered the call in the 77th minute, taking a ball straight to the near post and slotting a shot under Crump, who had come out to cut down West's angle. UNCG's defense put the clamp down for the rest of the game, however, affording the Bull offense just one more legitimate chance in the game's final 13 minutes, a shot on goal by Salgado from the left side of the box.
The high-powered offensive display saw a total of 20 shots on goal, including 11 by the Spartans and nine by the Bulls. USF gave up eleven corner kicks while earning just five. Junior goalkeeper Perkins made seven saves in the contest, while Crump made six.
With the loss, the Bulls drop to 3-1 on the season and are out of contention for the tournament title. Following a match between first-round winner Stetson and UNCG at Noon on Sunday, USF faces Stony Brook at 2:00 p.m. in what has shaped up to be the tournament's consolation game. Each already having three points, UNCG and Stetson will battle for the hardware in the early game.
