GREENSBORO, NC – On Sunday, UNC Greensboro won its 11th straight game to break a year-old school record for longest winning streak by defeating Elon, 1-0, in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Conference Tournament. On Friday night, the Spartans upped the record by one more, shutting out the College of Charleston, 1-0, to advance to the SoCon Championship game.
The Cougars (9-7-3) had the first chance to score minutes after kickoff, but senior Mary Kate Towne sealed the win for the Spartans (15-3-1) just 10 minutes into the game. Sophomore Kelly Attayek intercepted a Cougar pass at midline, turned, and sent a quick ball to freshman Kristin Player at the top of the box. With her back to the defender, Player sent a through-ball to Towne, who had just split two defenders. Towne dribbled up to the edge of the 18-yard box and then tucked a shot into the left corner past CofC keeper Sarah Wiggers.
Both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, but that's not to say there was a lack of opportunity. Sophomore Lauren Lopez dropped three balls into the hands of Wiggers right on the goal line. In one instance the ball came loose and the Spartans were able to get a shot off before she could regain control. In another, Player got in a quick headshot before Wiggers could get the ball back in her hands.
In the 24th minute, a throw-in from senior Karla Davis bounced off Towne, Player, and sophomore Jennifer Bronson before rolling out of bounds and with 12:30 left to go in the game, junior Katelynn Donovan just skimmed the crossbar with a shot from 25 yards out.
The Cougars had several scoring opportunities themselves. Senior keeper Katherine Ryan had to pull down C of C's lone corner kick and two right side crosses that nearly slipped inside.
The Spartans held a 3-2 corner kick advantage and out-shot the Cougars 13-5.
UNCG's Ryan recorded 3 saves. C of C's Wiggers nabbed five saves including one during a one-on-one with Player just inside the box.
"It was really a team effort tonight," said UNC Greensboro head coach Eddie Radwanski. "Katherine (Ryan) played a really strong game in goal. Our defense kept pushing them up and the forwards kept taking the ball to the goal. At this stage it's all about advancing. The Championship has always been our goal and on Sunday, we'll have the
chance to win it."
On Sunday the Spartans will face the Lady Paladins of Furman (15-5-1) for a 1:00pm championship kickoff at Alumni Soccer Stadium in Davidson, NC. This will be a rematch of last year's Championship final in which UNCG topped the Lady Paladins, 3-1, in Cullowhee, NC.
In the semifinal round, Furman defeated the Davidson Wildcats (14-5-1), 1-0, in double overtime. With just 2.6 seconds left in the second overtime, a Furman shot to the back of the net saved them from penalty kicks and advanced them to the championship round.
This is the sixth time the Spartans have made a championship game appearance since entering into the Southern Conference in 1997. On four of those occasions (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006) they have faced off and won against Furman. Overall the Spartans hold a 5-2 game advantage over Furman in conference tournament play and have out-scored the Lady Paladins 11-4.
With the win, the Spartans extend their conference unbeaten streak to 22 regular season games and 25 games overall. They need just one more to tie Furman's record of 26 set in 2003.
For complete Southern Conference Tournament information log onto www.SoConSports.com.
For more information on UNCG women's soccer and all other Spartan athletics visit www.uncgspartans.com.
AGATE
SCORE BY PERIODS
1 2 Total
COFC 0 0 0
UNCG 1 0 1
SCORING SUMMARY: UNCG – Towne (4) (Player), 10:04; Shots: COFC 5, UNCG 13; Saves: COFC 6 (Wiggers 5, Team 1), UNCG 3 (Ryan 3); Corner Kicks: COFC 2, UNCG 3; Fouls: COFC 7, UNCG 5)
- UNCG -
