Box Score
Matt Smith's First Collegaite Goal Lifted UNCG Past Wake Forest, 2-1 |
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Freshman Matt Smith scored his first collegiate goal in the 79th minute of play to help the No. 4 ranked UNC Greensboro men's soccer team defeat No. 13 Wake Forest, 2-1, Tuesday night in front of 1,810 fans at Spry Stadium. The win for the Spartans over the Demon Deacons ended a five game losing streak to Wake Forest and was the first win since the 1989 season. It also marked the third win over an ACC foe this season.
UNCG improves to 5-0-1 on the season, while Wake Forest, who dropped its second straight game at home, falls to 3-2-1.
"It was a great win for us", said UNCG head coach Michael Parker. "Our team's effort was outstanding tonight especially our defense. Jay Benfield was excellent for us tonight in goal."
Smith's goal came 15 seconds after Wake Forest had tied the game at 1-1. Egill Atlason's header from 20 yards out found the streaking Smith just inside the box, he controlled the pass, shook off a Demon Deacon defender and scored. Smith, a native from Mebane, NC, entered the game just seconds earlier on a substitution.
UNCG opened the game's scoring just six minutes into the match when sophomore Scott Jones took a feed from senior James Goodman just outside the box and overpowered past a Wake Forest defender to score from ten yards out. The goal for Jones was his first of the season.
Wake Forest's lone goal of the evening came at 78:44 when Scott Sealy scored off a give and go from Stephen Keel and Ryan Solle.
UNCG returns to action Saturday night against SoCon foe Appalachian State at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Wake Forest will host South Carolina Friday night at Spry Stadium.
