BOX SCORE (PDF)
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – After scoring three goals in the first two games, the UNCG men's soccer team had an offensive outburst Sunday afternoon as the Spartans posted a 5-0 victory over hosting UNC Asheville at Greenwood Field for their first victory of the season. The Spartans had four different players score goals in the victory with senior forward Hakan Ilhan (Stuttgart, Germany/Univ. of Stuttgart) leading the way with two goals, his six career two-goal game.
"We were a lot better today," head coach
Justin Maullin said. "Our attitude and preparation for today's game was spot on. We created the same chances as the first two games, but today we finished them in the final third. Also, we did a better job defending our own end and posted our first shutout of the season. We need to build on this momentum and take it to Longwood on a quick turnaround Tuesday night."
The Spartans dominated play from the beginning holding a 25-6 edge in shots for the game, while scoring three first half goals and two in the second half. UNCG opened the scoring in the 11
th minute of play as junior
Maximilian Schulz (Northeim, Germany/Gymnasium Corvinianum) drove down the sideline and sent a cross into the box. Junior
Oddur Gudmundsson (Reykjavik, Iceland/Breidholti) ran on to the end of the cross and drilled it into the back of the net from five yards out for his second goal of the season.
UNCG extended its lead to 2-0 just under eight minutes later as Schulz once again was involved in the play, picking up his second assist of the afternoon and team-leading third of the season. He sent a corner kick into the box where freshman
Lukas Zarges (Friedrichsdorf, Germany/Philip Reis Schule) ripped a header into the back of the net for his first career goal.
The Spartans continued to attack and ran its lead to 3-0 in the 25th minute of play. Zarges sent a cross into the six-yard box where Ilhan found some space and easily beat the UNC Asheville goalkeeper for his first tally of the season. The goal capped a stretch of 14:20 in the first half that saw the Spartans score three goals, matching their output from the first two games.
The second half was much of the same with the Spartans controlling play with a dominating 14-1 edge in shots in the second fame. Ilhan scored his second goal of the game in the 56th minute of play as he gained possession outside the 18-yard box and drove past a couple of Bulldog defenders before beating goalkeeper Dan Jackson to give UNCG a 4-0 lead.
"I was happy for Hakan today scoring his first two goals of the season," Maullin said. "He has been in a slump and didn't finish his chances in the first two games. I challenged him before the game, and like the great player he is, he stepped up and delivered with two great goals."
The Spartans wrap up the impressive victory in fitting action, scoring in the game's final minute to increase the final total to 5-0. Sophomore
Austin Miller (High Point, N.C./High Point Central) sent a beautiful ball just outside the 18-yard box to redshirt senior
Ross Burki (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis). Burki took advantage of some open space the struck a shot high into the corner of the goal for his fourth career tally and a five-goal lead.
The five-goal victory is the most for the Spartans since defeating Georgia Southern by the same score last October and improved UNCG to 12-0-1 all-time against the Bulldogs. Senior goalkeeper
Peyton Ford (Jamestown, N.C./Southwest Guilford) and redshirt freshman
Stephen Moffitt (Burlington, N.C./Williams) combined for the shutout as Ford made one save.
UNCG concludes its four-game road swing to open the 2012 season as it travels to Farmville, Va., for a non-conference meeting against Longwood. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
- UNCG -
