GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman Tabitha Padgett scored for the third game in a row and seniors Lauren Lopez and Heather Mitrisin added goals of their own as UNC Greensboro downed Wofford on Sunday, 3-0, to cap Homecoming weekend.
The Spartans (6-4, 2-0 Southern Conference) got on the board early, with Padgett heading home a ball in the 11th minute for what would prove to be her third game-winner of the season. Cat Barnekow got the play started in the midfield, sending a ball to Katie Evans on the left side. Evans lofted a nice pass into the 18-yard box, and Padgett nodded the ball over keeper Erika Christensen from about 12 yards out.
Lopez made it a 2-0 game in the 19th minute with an unassisted goal. After a Wofford foul outside the box, Lopez sent the direct kick into the upper right corner from about 25 yards out for her first goal of the season.
That's where the score would stand until the second half. Wofford (1-9, 0-2 SoCon) didn't get off a shot in the first half, as UNCG held a 7-0 shot advantage at the break.
The Terriers came out with renewed intensity after intermission, turning up their defensive pressure. UNCG was finally able to crack the defense in the 63rd minute, however, as Mitrisin one-timed a Kristin Player cross in to Christensen, then collided with the keeper. After a brief consultation, the officials ruled that Christensen had crossed the line with the ball, giving the Spartans their third goal of the day.
Freshman Lauren Hein also picked up an assist on the play.
Wofford got its first shot off just after halftime, as Monica Ploetzke took a free kick just outside the UNCG box and sent it high.
With the game all but decided and the final seconds ticking down, the Terriers nearly broke up the shutout. With less than 20 seconds left in the game, Ploetzke one-timed a Wofford cross, sending in a strike that bounced off the crossbar and back into play. Ploetzke pounced on the rebound, but her second attempt was well high.
Kearney picked up her fourth shutout of the season and second in a row, making one save.
Christensen allowed three goals and made four stops.
With the win, UNCG's regular-season SoCon unbeaten streak moved to 33 matches – the Spartans are 31-0-2 in league regular-season play since dropping the final regular-season match of the 2005 season.
The Spartans return to action on Friday, Oct. 2, when they will take to the road for their first SoCon road game of the season. UNCG will face Davidson in Davidson, N.C., at 7 p.m.
AGATE
Wofford (1-9, 0-2 SoCon) vs. UNC Greensboro (6-4, 2-0 SoCon)
Date: Sep 27, 2009 Attendance: 263
Weather: 76 degrees, partly cloudy
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Wofford 0 0 0
UNC Greensboro 2 1 3
SCORING SUMMARY:
1 10:05 UNCG Tabitha Padgett (4) (Katie Evans;Cat Barnekow)
2 18:25 UNCG Lauren Lopez (1) (unassisted)
3 62:30 UNCG Heather Mitrisin (1) (Kristin Player;Lauren Hein)
Shots: Wofford 4, UNC Greensboro 14
Saves: Wofford 4 (Erika Christensen 4), UNC Greensboro 1 (Kelsey Kearney 1)
Corner kicks: Wofford 1, UNC Greensboro 4
Fouls: Wofford 7, UNC Greensboro 9
- UNCG -
