GREENSBORO, NC The UNC Greensboro women's soccer team went undefeated in the Southern Conference for the second season in a row as they shutout the Elon Phoenix, 3-0, Thursday evening at UNCG Soccer Stadium to close out the regular season.
The Spartans (13-3-1, 10-0-0 SoCon) nabbed the title and the shutout after out-shooting the
Phoenix, 24-8. UNCG also held an 8-1 corner kick advantage. With the loss, Elon dropped to 5-11-2 overall with a 3-6-1 SoCon record.
The evening began with a tribute to UNCG's three senior members. Goalkeeper Katherine Ryan, midfielder Karla Davis, and forward/midfielder Jessica Patterson were all acknowledged for their achievements in the past four years. The three teammates close out their collegiate regular season with an overall record of 50-23-5, a SoCon record of 34-4-2, three SoCon regular-season titles, and an appearance at the NCAA tournament.
The short celebration pre-empted a Spartan scoring drive as sophomore Jennifer Bronson got UNCG on the board with a one-touch goal just six minutes in. Junior Katelynn Donovan gave a quick feed to Davis who was able to cross it in front of the goal from the left side. Bronson got a foot on it to score her second goal of the season.
UNCG's second goal came just five minutes after the first as Donovan launched a long corner kick into the box. Senior Jamie Corti charged the net and rammed a header just past the hands of Elon keeper Lizz Johnson for her first goal of the season.
Freshman Jenn Partenheimer put the Spartans up 3-0 with a little over five minutes remaining in the game as freshman Jen Rincon gave a quick touch at the top of box. Partenheimer danced through a few Phoenix defenders before splitting two to put the ball in from 10 yards. The goal was her fourth of the season.
Ryan wrapped-up three saves on the night while Elon's Johnson tallied 11.
With the win, the Spartans extend their conference regular-season unbeaten streak to 20 with an overall unbeaten streak of 23. The Southern Conference record for most longest unbeaten streak against conference foes is 26 held by Furman from Sept. 27, 2002 to Nov. 7, 2003. The mark for longest unbeaten streak in regular season conference games is also held by Furman at 23 straight, a mark the Spartans will have to wait to next season to take a shot at. Furman's streak ran from Oct. 31, 1998 to Oct. 6, 2001.
It was the first unblemished SoCon league slate since Furman went 10-0-0 in 2002. It is the third time since joining the SoCon that UNCG has gone through the league unbeaten, previously having done it in 1997 and 1998.
“Not only was it great to end with a win and an unbeaten record, but what a night to do so,” said head coach Eddie Radwanski, “Our three seniors have worked hard these past four years and they deserved to end their career on a positive note.”
“Elon is not an easy opponent...they didn't just lie down and let things happen. They played hard and fought even harder...the fact that we came out with a shutout speaks volumes for our team.”
Defender Jamie Corti was named the Greg Harrison UNCG Player of the Game.
The Spartans will have just two days rest before meeting with Elon once again at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. The two teams will square-off for the quarter-inal game of the Southern Conference Tournament at 2pm.
“We start a whole new season come tomorrow," said Radwanski. "Just because we play a team we've already beaten doesn't mean we can go in there unprepared. This tournament is completely different than the regular season and if we want a win and a championship, we're going to have to earn it.”
For more information on UNCG women's soccer and all other Spartan athletics visit www.uncgspartans.com .
AGATE
SCORE BY PERIODS
1 2 Total
Elon 0 0 0
UNCG 2 1 3
SCORING SUMMARY: UNCG Bronson (2) (Donovan, Davis), 6:01; UNCG Corti (1) (Donovan); 11:20; UNCG Partenheimer (4) (Rincon), 84:32; Shots: ELON 8, UNCG 24; Saves: ELON 11 (Johnson 11) UNCG 3 (Ryan 3); Corner Kicks: ELON 1, UNCG 8; Fouls: ELON 9, UNCG 11.
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