Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's soccer team went toe-to-toe for over 100 minutes against Southern Conference leader Mercer before surrendering a double overtime goal as the Spartans fell 2-1 Saturday night at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. The loss is the first this season for the Spartans at home in SoCon play and keeps UNCG in third place in the league standings.
“Feel really bad for our guys tonight,” head coach Justin Maullin said. “They battled all night and deserved a better outcome. We put ourselves in positions tonight to score that second goal by generating 19 shots, but where unable to find the go ahead goal. Our guys worked hard tonight and deserved to come out of here with a different result.”
In the 29th minute of play, Mercer (9-5-0. 5-1-0 SoCon) struck for the game's first goal on its first dangerous chance of the night. Substitute Carson Brooks made a run down the left-hand side and made his way past a couple of UNCG defenders. Brooks sent the ball across the mouth of the goal where David Murtaugh was able to beat the Spartan defender to the ball and tap it into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
The Spartans came down in the 36th minute of action and had their best scoring chance of the half. Senior defender Aaron Reifschneider (Frisco, Texas/Frisco) had the ball at the midline and sent a long pass behind the Mercer defense. Sophomore defender Quin Lema (Pembroke, Bermuda/American Heritage) was making a run down the right-hand side and got to the ball volleying it towards goal, but it sailed just outside the post past Mercer goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh.
UNCG came back and tied the game early in the second half, finding the back of the net in the 58th minute of action. Junior Lukas Zarges (Freidrichsdorf, Germany/Hebbleschule) made a run down the middle of the field and was hauled down by a Mercer defender, setting up a free kick for UNCG. Redshirt sophomore forward Christopher Reingen (Dusseldorf, Germany/Univ. of Dusseldorf) stepped up and placed a perfectly placed shot into the side netting past Ranjitsingh, tying the game at 1-1 with his third goal of the year.
Freshman goalkeeper William Pyle (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) came up big for the Spartans down the stretch of the second half, making five saves in the second period. Pyle stoned Jourdan Gooden from 15-yards out in the 70th minute and stood tall in the 81st minute against Brooks, making a diving save to keep the game tied.
The Spartans had the best chance in the first overtime period and it came early in the 93rd minute. UNCG was threatening and its initial ball was cleared outside the box. Reingen stepped up to the rolling ball and cracked a shot from 20-yards out that stayed on the ground and was able to be smothered by Ranjitsingh.
The Spartans had an early chance in the second overtime as freshman defender Eric Gunnarsson (Falkenberg, Sweden) made a run through the midfield. He dropped a pass off to senior Justin Jones (Jamestown, N.C./Lees-McRae) and his shot from the top of the 18-yard box went past the out-stretched arms of Ranjitsingh but wide of the goal.
Mercer was able to score the golden goal in the 104th minute of action as it quickly flipped the field on a throw-in and made the best of its opportunity. The ball was throw in to forward Will Bagrou who was able to get past a Spartan defender and turn the corner on the end line. Bagrou sent the ball back into the box where Thomas Glenn was waiting. Glen fired a shot that went under a Spartan defender and snuck under Pyle for the game-winning goal and the 2-1 victory.
The Spartans out-shot the Bears 19-14 in the loss as Zarges led the way with five shots and Reingen added four shots. Pyle picked up the loss for the Spartans despite making seven saves while Ranjitsingh also made seven saves in the victory for Mercer.
The Spartans will wrap up their four-game home stretch Tuesday night as they host SoCon rival Furman. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
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