Box Score

GREENSBORO, NC – Senior midfielder Matt Bly scored the game-winning goal 3:53 into the first overtime period, as the ninth-seeded UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team defeated eighth-seeded UNC Greensboro, 1-0, in the third round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. With the win, the Gauchos will host 16^th-seeded Virginia Commonwealth next weekend in Santa Barbara, California.

UC Santa Barbara, who was ranked No. 1 in the country in the final regular season poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), improved to 19-2-1 overall, while UNCG ended their season at 19-3-1.

Bly, who recorded his second goal of the season, scored at the 93:53 mark from eight yards out after he received a feed from Ivan Becerra from just outside the right hand side of the penalty box.

The loss for the Spartans snapped their 12-game unbeaten streak at home. UNCG last lost at home in the 2003 regular season finale to Wake Forest. It was the first time the Spartans were shutout this season.

The match started out very physical as four cards were issued in the first 5:55 of the game, including two to UC Santa Barbara's Neil Jones for interfering with UNCG goalkeeper Jay Benfield. Jones' ejection caused the Gauchos to play a man down the rest of the game.

“You have to give UC Santa Barbara credit, they played very physical and were able to frustrated us on the offensive end,” said UNCG head coach Michael Parker. “We were not able to create quality scoring opportunities. I am very proud of our boys. This will certainly go down as one of the best seasons for UNCG soccer. I don't want to compare them, but this will go down as one of the best. The guys on the field had never been to the NCAA Tournament. When you go this far into the tournament, you can't help but feel the pressure and nervousness.”

UCSB goalkeeper Dan Kennedy picked up the win for the Gauchos, stopping two UNCG shots in recording his 12^th shutout of the season. Benfield recorded seven saves in the defeat for the Spartans.

UC Santa Barbara (19-2-1) vs. UNC Greensboro (19-3-1)

 Date: Nov 28, 2004  Attendance: 1667

 Weather: Sunny, Breezy

 Goals by period       1  2 OT  Tot

 ----------------------------------

 UC Santa Barbara....  0  0  1 -  1

 UNC Greensboro......  0  0  0 -  0

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.  93:53 UCSB Bly, Matt (Becerra, Ivan)

   Shots: UC Santa Barbara 10, UNC Greensboro 5