Box Score

GREENSBORO, NC Sophomore Scott Jones had a goal and an assist as the top-ranked UNC Greensboro men's soccer team defeated Winthrop, 2-1, in non-conference action Saturday night at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. The Spartans finish the regular season at 17-1-1 overall, while Winthrop drops to 7-11.

UNCG has now won all ten meeting in the series with the Eagles, outscoring them by a 40-8 margin.

Jones got the Spartans on the board at the 5:12 mark when he scored from ten yards out off a loose ball from a deflected Phil Long shot. The goal for Jones was his seventh of the season, five of those have been game-winning goals.

UNCG made it 2-0 at the 53:03 mark of the second half when freshman Matt Smith notched his seventh goal of the season with help from Jones. Smith, a product of Mebane, N.C., leads all freshmen in the Southern Conference in scoring with 19 points (7 goals, 5 assists).

Winthrop avoided the shutout by scoring just four seconds remaining in the game, when junior Will Nova tallied his first goal of the season off a cross from Kevin Keegan.

Freshman goalkeeper Ryan Nowak, who made two saves on the evening, picked up his third win of the season in goal for the Spartans, while Winthrop keeper Steve Winton stopped eight shots. 

The Spartans, the top seed in next week's Southern Conference Soccer Tournament, will take on eighth-seeded Wofford in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. UNCG blanked the Terriers, 5-0, on Oct. 19 in Greensboro. The semifinals and finals will be held at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC November 12 and 14. Winthrop will take on UNC Asheville in the quarterfinal round of the Big South Tournament beginning on Thursday in Birmingham, Ala.