Jen Rincon scored the first two goals of her career to lead the UNC Greensboro women's soccer team over Chattanooga, 4-1, Friday evening in the Southern Conference opener for both teams.
The win marks the 18th straight SoCon win for the Spartans and keeps UNCG undefeated through the last 21 conference matches. UNCG (6-4-0, 1-0-0) has not dropped a conference match since October 30, 2005 when it lost to Furman, 4-3 in double-overtime.
Kelly Attayek led all players with five shots while Jenn Partenheimer and Rincon registered four apiece. While Rincon was busy finding the back of the net, Attayek was busy dishing out assists. The junior handed out two assists on the night, upping her season total to a team-high five on the year. As a team the Spartans out-shot Chattanooga (3-6-1, 0-1-0) 20-5 on the evening, marking their highest shot total of the season thus far. UNCG also held the advantage on corner kicks, offering up eight to just two for the Lady Mocs.
Senior Mary Kate Towne got the Spartans on the board early in the first half, netting her third goal of the year in the sixth minute of play off an assist from Attayek.
Rincon scored the first of her two goals, the eventual game-winner, in the 23rd minute of action after taking a pass from Leigh Riordon and beating the Chattanooga defense, finding the back of the net from nine yards out. Rincon would later pad the lead for the Spartans, netting her second goal of the game off an assist from freshman Nicole Danford in the 38th minute.
UNCG would later go up 4-0 as Danford found the back of the net for her team-leading fifth goal of the season during the 60th minute of play. Attayek picked up her second assist of the evening and fifth of the year on the Spartans' only goal of the second half.
The Lady Mocs were unable to mount much of an attack until the 86th minute when Chelsea Hurst connected on a corner kick from Marlee Jenkins to give Chattanooga their only goal of the game.
Freshman Kelsey Kearney lowered her goals against average to 1.13 after shutting out Chattanooga for 72:03 minutes. Kearney was spelled by sophomore Barrie Vogel for the final17:57 after registering two saves, lifting her season total to a team-leading 25 saves.
UNCG will be in action again on Sunday as they travel to Samford for the first-ever matchup between the two programs. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 pm ET and live stats can be found on www.uncgspartans.com. Spartan All-Access members will be able to watch the action as the game will be streamed live via the UNCG website.
AGATE
Scoring:
1 2 T
UNCG 3 1 4
UTC 0 1 1
Scoring Summary: UNCG Mary Kate Towne (Kelly Attayek) 5:24; UNCG - Jen Rincon (Leigh Riordon) 22:38; UNCG - Jen Rincon (Nicole Danford) 37:25; UNCG - Nicole Danford (Kelly Attayek) 59:02; UTC Chelsea Hurst (84:33) Marlee Jenkins; Shots: UNCG 7, Chattanooga 29; Saves: UNCG 2 (Kearney 2, Vogel 0), Chattanooga 9 (Allie Preston 8, Team 1); Corner Kicks: UNCG 8, Chattanooga 2; Fouls UNCG 11, Chattanooga 16.
