Box Score WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNCG men's soccer team battled strong through a physical game Monday night at UNCW, but the Spartans suffered a 2-1 double overtime loss to the Seahawks at the UNCW Soccer Stadium. The Seahawks scored the game-winning goal in the 106th minute of play to improve to 2-0-0 on the season.
The Spartans came out of the gate quickly as they had the game's first prime scoring chance in the 10th minute. Senior Justin Jones (Jamestown, N.C./Lees-McRae) made a run down the right-hand side and sent a long cross into the box. Senior forward Austin Miller (High Point, N.C./High Point Central) made a back post run and his header shot sailed just over the cross bar to keep the game scoreless.
UNCG kept finding space on long crosses from the right-side and had another opportunity in the 19th minute as Miller sent a long cross into the box. Freshman Tommi Gardarsson (Reykjavik, Iceland/Commercial College of Iceland) rose above the Seahawk defense and headed a shot just over the cross bar.
UNCW broke the scoreless game in the 22nd minute of action in its first scoring attempt of the game. The Seahawks got a free kick from 25 yards out where David Sizemore stepped forward and sent a bending shot low to the right side past senior goalkeeper Davis Griffin (Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road) for the 1-0 UNCW lead.
The teams battled closely in the first half with UNCW holding a slim 8-6 lead in shots in the first 45 minutes of action. In the second half, the Spartans came out the aggressor from the start and controlled the run of play. In the 52nd minute, Gardarsson had a chance from 15 yards out after a run across the top of the box that UNCW goalkeeper Sean Melvin was able to make the save on to keep the Seahawks in the lead.
UNCW had a chance to take a two-goal lead in the 55th minute of action. Colin Bonner got in behind the UNCG defense on a breakaway but Griffin timed his run perfectly and thwarted the effort to keep it a one-goal contest.
That save proved pivotal as in the 57th minute, UNCW was whistled for a handball in the box after a UNCG corner kick to give the Spartans a penalty kick. Gardarsson stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner and made it impossible for Melvin to save, tying the game at 1-1. The goal was the first of Gardarsson's career in the regular season and the Spartans' third penalty kick chance in the last three games (exhibition included).
The teams traded chances down the stretch in the second half as Spencer Tayloe had a header on a corner kick sail just wide in the 70th minute while junior Jacques Francois (Port Au Prince, Haiti/Louisburg College) had a chance in the 79th minute. Francois made a nice move on a counter attack to get in behind the UNCW defense. Melvin thwarted his shot with a one-handed save to keep the game scoreless and send it into overtime.
UNCW had the best chance of the first overtime period when Bonner got the ball on the top of the 18-yard box. He made a move to drive the top of the box and ripped a left-footed shot that sailed just wide of the post. UNCG had its best chance in extra time in the 102nd minute of action as Lukas Zarges (Freidrichsdorf, Germany/Phillip Reis Schulle) sent a corner kick into the box. Sophomore Hill Gwynn (Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley) was open six-yards out but his header went just over the cross bar.
The Seahawks scored the game-winning goal in the 106th minute of action. Jose Garcia won the ball in the midfield and sent a high ball into the box. Bonner made a run and was able to flick the ball over the on-charging Griffin and into the back of the net for the 2-1 UNCW victory.
The Spartans return home to the UNCG Soccer Stadium Friday night as they host James Madison. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and admission is FREE!
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