BLACKSBURG, VA Facing its second ACC opponent of the weekend, the UNC Greensboro women's soccer team picked up its first road victory of the season as the Spartans downed Virginia Tech 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the Virginia Tech Soccer Stadium on the Virginia Tech campus. With the win, the Spartans remained unbeaten in Blacksburg and improved their overall record to 4-3.
A defensive battle for the majority of the opening stanza, the two clubs managed but seven shots during the first 45 minutes of play. The Spartan defense, led by keeper Jennifer Stillman's four first half saves in net, limited the Hokie offense to just four shots in the initial period. The Randolph, NJ, native notched her third shutout of the season after recording six saves on the afternoon. UNCG, however, tallied just three first half shots, leaving the game deadlocked at zero at the conclusion of the first half.
“Today was a serious defensive effort by our kids,” head coach Eddie Radwanski said. “We knew the circumstances facing us today and we knew we had to play well defensively to beat an NCAA Tournament team like Virginia Tech.”
Despite being outshot 10-3 in the second half, the Spartans netted the game's only goal in the 63rd minute off the head of senior Amy Carnell. The reigning SoCon Play of the Year, Carnell scored her first goal of the season on a service from teammate and fellow senior Nicollette DeLaine, who collected her team-leading third assist of the season. DeLaine sent a cross into the Hokie's box from the near side of the net where Carnell headed the ball past Virginia Tech keeper Mallory Soldner. UNCG's goal was the first goal allowed by the Virginia Tech defense in three games, a span of over 342 minutes.
“It was a great win against a good ACC team,” Radwanski said. “To be able to travel on the road and beat them on their field after Friday's tough loss to 10th-ranked Wake Forest says a lot about our team. We knew it would be a challenge today, but our kids found a way to get a win against a well-coached Virginia Tech team. It was a great result for our team and our program.”
UNCG opens conference play Wednesday when the Spartans travel to Cullowee, NC, to take on Western Carolina in the opening contest of the Southern Conference schedule. The Spartans own a 7-2 all-record against the Catamounts and won last year's meeting 7-0. Game time is scheduled for 7 pm at the Catamount Athletic Complex.
AGATE:
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
UNC Greensboro...... 0 1 - 1
Virginia Tech....... 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 62:49 UNCG Amy Carnell (1) (Nicollette DeLaine)
Shots: UNC Greensboro 6, Virginia Tech 14
Saves: UNC Greensboro 7 (Jennifer Stillman 6; TEAM 1), Virginia Tech 1
(Mallory Soldner 1)
- UNCG -
