GREENSBORO, N.C. - For the third time in as many games, UNC Greensboro's women's soccer team played a 1-0 contest with a ranked opponent, but the Spartans came out on the wrong end of this one, falling to No. 4/2 Stanford at the UNCG Spartan Classic on Friday.
Virginia Tech beat VCU 4-3 in overtime in the first game of the Classic.
After beating No. 11 Duke and falling to No. 1 North Carolina at the Carolina Nike Classic last weekend, the Spartans (1-3) gave another top-flight opponent fits Friday night, holding the Cardinal - ranked No. 4 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and No. 2 by Soccer America - off the board until the 52nd minute.
But with 51:35 gone in the game, sophomore Lindsay Taylor pounced on a loose ball inside the 6-yard box and pounded it home for the only goal Stanford (4-0) would need. Mariah Noguiera picked up the assist on the play, as her initial shot was punched away by UNCG keeper Kelsey Kearney.
Now trailing the fourth-ranked team in the country, the Spartans' challenge got even bigger seven minutes later when senior Lauren Lopez was sent off. Lopez and the Cardinal's Kelley O'Hara got tangled up deep in UNCG territory, and Lopez was given a red card with 58:05 gone, forcing the Spartans to play a man down for the final 31:55.
The contest was a defensive struggle on both sides. UNCG's best scoring chances came early in the game, as Katie Evans and Heather Mitrisin both had close-range shots blocked off a UNCG free kick in the sixth minute.
The Cardinal had a couple of narrow misses in the first half, as well. In the 15th minute, Allison McCann got free on a breakaway, but her shot rolled just inches wide of the left post. Christen Press had a nearly identical opportunity in the 28th minute, but her shot went begging, as well.
UNCG found itself with numbers in the 31st minute, but senior Jen Bronson's shot from the top of the 18-yard box was too high.
The Spartans had an outstanding opportunity to tie it in the 63rd minute, with Kristin Player slipping behind the Stanford defense and drawing out keeper Kira Maker. Maker was able to corral the ball, but the play was waved off when Player was called for offsides.
Stanford continued to press on offense, getting off three corner kicks and four shots in the final 10 minutes. The shorthanded Spartans stood their ground, however, keeping the Cardinal from adding on.
Kearney made five stops and allowed just one goal in taking the tough-luck loss in the net.
The Spartans return to action on Sunday when they close out the UNCG Spartan Classic at 2:30 p.m. against Virginia Commonwealth, which features former UNCG assistant Siri Mullinix and former UNCG player Jamie Corti on its coaching staff.
Virginia Tech and Stanford will play at noon on Sunday.
VIRGINIA TECH 4, VCU 3 (OT): Kelsey Billups scored in the 98th minute to give Virginia Tech a 4-3, overtime win over Virginia Commonwealth in the first game of the UNCG Spartan Classic on Friday.
VCU provided early and late heroics in regulation to get the game to OT, but it was the Hokies (3-1) that came away with the win when Billups' shot from the top of the 18-yard box found the back of the net.
The Rams (1-2) scored less than two minutes into the game on Heather Hovanesian's first goal of the season, but Virginia Tech answered in the ninth minute with an Emily Jukich goal.
The Hokies took their first lead of the day in the 51st minute on Kelly Conheeney's header off a free kick, but the Rams had the answer in the 66th minute when Myriam Bouchard nodded in a free kick of her own.
Marika Gray banged a shot in off the left post in the 74th minute to put Virginia Tech back on top, but the Rams again found the answer, with Jasmine Riley chipping in from 25 yards out.
AGATE
Virginia Tech (3-1) vs. Va.Commonwealth (1-2)
Date: Sep 04, 2009 Attendance: 176
Weather: 85 degrees, 29% humidity
Goals by period 1 2 OT Tot
Virginia Tech 1 2 1 4
Va.Commonwealth 1 2 0 3
SCORING SUMMARY:
1 1:45 VCU Hovanesian, Heather (1) (Riley, Jasmine)
2 8:36 VT Emily Jukich (2) (Julian Johnson)
3 50:02 VT Kelly Conheeney (2) (Julia Goldsworthy)
4 65:56 VCU Bouchard, Myriam (1) (Dullea, Meaghan)
5 73:49 VT Marika Gray (2) (unassisted)
6 78:33 VCU Riley, Jasmine (3) (Bouchard, Myriam)
7 97:36 VT Kelsey Billups (2) (unassisted)
Shots: Virginia Tech 25, Va.Commonwealth 11
Saves: Virginia Tech 2 (Rebekah Brook 1; Robin Chidester 1), Va.Commonwealth 8 (Hudson, Kate 8)
Fouls: Virginia Tech 12, Va. Commonwealth 11
Corner kicks: Virginia Tech 9, Va. Commonwealth 6
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Stanford (4-0) vs. UNC Greensboro (1-3)
Date: Sep 04, 2009 Attendance: 644
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Stanford 0 1 1
UNC Greensboro 0 0 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1 51:35 STAN Taylor, Lindsay (1) (Nogueira, Mariah)
Shots: Stanford 15, UNC Greensboro 4
Saves: Stanford 0 (), UNC Greensboro 5 (Kelsey Kearney 5)
Fouls: Stanford 8, UNC Greensboro 1
Corner kicks: Stanford 8, UNC Greensboro 0
