GREENSBORO, NC UNC Greensboro stopped two shots from point-blank range with 30 seconds to go to preserve a one-goal lead and defeat Campbell, 2-1, in men's soccer action at UNCG Soccer Stadium on Wednesday night.
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Nirav Kadam scored what wound-up to be the
game-winner as UNCG topped Campbell, 2-1,
Wednesday night at UNCG Soccer Stadium. The
Spartans are now unbeaten in three straight (2-0-1).
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Campbell's Richard Jata had two shots from inside the six-yard box during a scramble with 30 seconds left. The first was knocked down by UNCG keeper Chad Janda. The second off the rebound by Jata appeared to hit a Spartan defender. Jata could not get another crack at the loose ball and the Spartans survived for their second win of the year (2-3-1). Jata also had a gorgeous bicycle kick from 12 yards out a few minutes early that glanced off the side of the net.
UNCG got off to a fast start with two goals in the first 20 minutes. Matt Strine, a redshirt sophomore from Spring, TX, started the scoring at 5:22 with his second tally of the season. Travis Young fed Strine at the top of the box in the middle of the field. Strine took two dribbles towards the net, fighting off a defender, before hitting a blast into the left side of the goal.
Sophomore Nirav Kadam made it 2-0 at the 18:16 mark. Tebatso Manyama played a ball in the midfield to the left sideline and the foot of Joe Burnett. Burnett made a run down the sideline and crossed the ball to the top of the box, finding Kadam. Kadam, a Germantown, MD native, connected on a shot from there for his first tally of the season and a comfortable two-goal lead.
Campbell got one back midway through the second half. UNCG's Matt Elliott was called for a hand ball just barely inside of the box, one step inside the 18. Josue Soto converted the ensuing penalty kick to make it a 2-1 lead.
The Spartans survived the late scurry and being outshot 12-1 in the second half to extend their unbeaten string to three straight after their first 0-3-0 start since 1973. Campbell (2-3-0) finished with a 15-8 advantage in shots and 6-2 in corner kicks. Janda finished with three saves in the second half, while Chad Dickerson had two saves in the first half for UNCG.
The Spartans, who have now beaten Campbell three consecutive seasons, will host UNC Wilmington at 7 pm Saturday.
AGATE
SCORE BY PERIODS
CAMPBELL..0..1..- 1
UNCG........2..0..- 2
SCORING: UNCG Strine (Young) 5:22; UNCG Kadam (Burnett, Manyama) 18:16; CU Soto (penalty kick) 66:49. SHOTS: CU 15, UNCG 8; SAVES: CU 3 (Johnson 3); UNCG 6 (Dickerson 2, Janda 3, Team 1). Corner kicks: CU 6, UNCG 2. Fouls: CU 6, UNCG 9.
- UNCG -
