Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's soccer team closed out the regular season with a dominating 3-1 Southern Conference victory over visiting VMI on a brisk Saturday night on Homecoming and senior night at the UNCG Soccer Stadium in front of 1,029 fans.
The victory improves the Spartans to 5-4-1 in SoCon play as they finish in a tie for third place in the regular season standings with Furman. UNCG will be the fourth seed in the upcoming SoCon Tournament and will host fifth-seeded East Tennessee State next Saturday night in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m.
“Our seniors are a special group of kids,” head coach Justin Maullin said. “Every one of them hold a special place in our hearts and we will miss them dearly. I am glad we got them off with a win tonight and we get to come back here in a week to play against in the SoCon Tournament.”
Prior to the game, the Spartans honored eight seniors during senior day festivities. UNCG recognized Davis Griffin (Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road), Aaron Reifschneider (Frisco, Texas/Frisco), Dustin Gamradt (Kiel, Germany/Hebbleschule), Nathan Bunch (Raleigh, N.C./Incarnate Word), Justin Jones (Jamestown, N.C./Lees-McRae), Jake Fields (Newtown, Pa./Villanova), Austin Miller (High Point, N.C./High Point Central) and Stephen Moffitt (Burlington, N.C./Williams).
The Spartans completed the season-series sweep of the Keydets and improves to 10-0-0 all-time against VMI as they out-shot the Keydets 24-7 in the victory. UNCG also held a dominating 11-0 edge in corner kicks, including eight in the second half.
The Spartans came out of the gate quickly, generating chances from the start. In the 11th minute, junior forward Jacques Francois (Port Au Prince, Haiti/Louisburg College) made a run down the right-hand side. Francois beat a couple of VMI defenders and ripped a shot from 15-yards out that went past Keydet goalkeeper Alex Guerra but wide of the far post.
Just a minute later, freshman Moises Gonzalez (Bailey, N.C./Southern Nash) was sent in alone by a pass from Eric Gunnarsson (Falkenberg, Sweden). Gonzalez brought the ball down and ripped a shot from 10-yards out but Guerra was able to get just enough of the shot to keep it out of the goal.
UNCG broke through in the 18th minute of play as Reifschneider started his strong senior night with the first of his two assists. Reifschneider sent a long ball over the back line of the VMI defense. Sophomore Nicholas Downs (Great Falls, Mont./Charles M. Russell) brought the ball down and was in alone on goal. Downs calmly beat Guerra for his first career regular season goal and the 1-0 lead.
The Spartans came within inches of taking a two-goal lead in the 28th minute of action. Gunnarsson and Francois combined in the box on a give-and-go that sprung Gunnarsson into space from 10-yards out, but Guerra saved his shot. VMI had its best chance in the waning minutes of the first half as Griffin misplayed a back pass and Blake McCauley jumped on the loose ball but his shot went wide of the goal.
The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the 74th minute of action as their pressure finally broke the VMI defense. Francois made a run down the end line and sent a cross into the box where Gunnarsson ripped a shot form 15-yards out. Guerra made the initial save and the rebound came right back to Gunnarsson. He dropped the ball off to the left of goal where redshirt sophomore forward Christopher Reingen (Dusseldorf, Germany/Univ. of Dusseldorf) quickly slotted the ball into the back of the net for his team-leading fourth goal of the year.
UNCG was not done offensively as it took a 3-0 lead with a goal in the 80th minute of play. Reifschneider again played a large part in the goal as this time he sent a long ball into the box that put Gunnarsson in alone on goal. Gunnarsson placed the ball low past Guerra for his second career goal, both of which have come against VMI.
The Keydets spoiled the Spartans' shutout attempt against the senior goalkeeping duo of Griffin and Moffitt in the 86th minute. Dan Geyer gained possession in the midfield and sent a through ball into the box where Travis Borkey was able to beat Moffitt with the goal to make it a 3-1 contest.
Reingen finished the game with six shots in the victory for the Spartans while Gunnarsson added four shots as he moved up to the midfield position this game. Griffin picked up his first career victory playing the first half while Moffitt played the second half and posted two saves in his first action of the season.
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