DAVIDSON, N.C. – Kristin Player scored in the 21st minute and Kelsey Kearney extended her school record for career shutouts as UNCG beat Davidson 1-0 in Southern Conference women's soccer action on Sunday.
"I'm so proud our girls," UNCG coach Steve Nugent said. "The energy, the brand of the soccer that we played today for 90 minutes, it would have been hard for a lot of teams to beat us today. We played with a passion and an energy that we had yet to play with this year, and it really paid off.
"This is definitely what we as a staff have been waiting to see all year. It's incredibly gratifying to see them go out and use not only a gameplan but a style of soccer that we have been talking about since we got here. It was a joy to watch."
Player, the reigning SoCon Player of the Week, converted passes from Karin Sendel and Shea Glaspey to put the Spartans (4-7-0, 3-1 SoCon) on top midway through the first half. Sendel one-timed a Player pass ahead to Glaspey, who nodded it ahead to a streaking Player. The redshirt senior from Placentia, Calif., caught the pass in stride, sneaking a right-footed strike just inside the left post for the only goal of the afternoon.
With the 28th goal of her career, Player moved into fifth in school history in scoring with 76 career points.
Kearney and the UNCG defense – Tinna Bergthorsdottir, Lauren Lover, Casey Godwin and Stephanie Partenheimer – did the rest, limiting Davidson (4-6-2, 2-2-0 SoCon) to just six shots on the afternoon. Kearney made four saves in picking up her first shutout of the season and 32nd of her career. Already UNCG's career leader in the category, Kearney now needs just five to become the SoCon's shutout leader.
UNCG rattled off 15 shots on the afternoon, including an 11-2 advantage in the first half. The Spartans peppered Davidson keeper Rachel Locke early and often, getting off four corner kicks and five shots before Player's goal.
Stephanie Piperno had both of the Wildcats' shots in the first half, forcing saves by Kearney each time. Piperno had Davidson's only two shots on frame in the second half, as well.
UNCG continues its four-match road swing in Charleston, S.C., next weekend. The Spartans will take on The Citadel at 4 p.m. Friday and College of Charleston at 1 p.m. Sunday.
AGATE
UNCG 1, Davidson 0
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
UNCG................ 1 0 - 1
Davidson............ 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 20:45 UNCG Kristin Player (4) (Karin Sendel;Shea Glaspey)
Shots: UNCG 15, Davidson 6; Saves: UNCG 4 (Kelsey Kearney 4), Davidson 5 (Rachel Locke 5); Corner kicks: UNCG 6, Davidson 2; Fouls: UNCG 13, Davidson 4.
- UNCG -
