Box Score FARMVILLE, Va. – Trailing 2-0 after 45 minutes on the road, the short-handed UNCG men's soccer team rallied for two second half goals to post a 2-2 double overtime tie against Longwood Saturday night at the Longwood Athletic Complex.
“Our guys battled tonight,” head coach Justin Maullin said. “We gutted out a result tonight and showed fight coming back from down two goals at half. We had some different guys step up and play big minutes for us.”
Freshman Moises Gonzalez (Bailey, N.C./Southern Nash) and junior Dustin Gamradt (Kiel, Germany/Hebbleschule) scored goals in the second half as UNCG out-shot the Lancers 9-4 in the second half and 12-5 over the final 65 minutes of play.
In the 12th minute of action, senior midfielder Austin Miller (High Point, N.C./High Point Central) sent a through ball behind the Longwood defense. Gamradt ran onto the pass behind the back line and was in on a breakaway. Gamradt's shot was thwarted by Longwood goalkeeper Carlos Canas and junior forward Jacques Francois (Port Au Prince, Haiti/Louisburg College) saw his attempt off the rebound go just wide of the post.
Longwood took advantage of its first scoring chance of the night to take a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute of play. Vaughn Fowler brought down a long ball on the right-hand side of the 18-yard box and ripped a shot from 10-yards out that senior goalkeeper Davis Griffin (Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road) was able to block down but the rebound popped back out to Fowler who deposited it into the back of the net for the early lead.
The Lancers added to their lead just 2:23 later as they were able to find some room behind the UNCG defense. Fowler again found room on the right side and sent a cross through the top of the six-yard box where Mike Durr was able to tap it into the net for a 2-0 lead. The Lancers came close to their third goal in the 22nd minute as Durr ripped a shot off the cross bar from 18 yards out.
The Spartans finally broke through in the 53rd minute of action as Noah DeAngelo (Burlington, N.C./Bishop McGuiness) sent a long ball into the box. Gamradt flicked the ball towards goal but a Longwood defender was whistled for a handball setting the stage for a penalty kick. Gonzalez stepped up to the spot and calmly drilled the ball into the back of the net past Canas to make it a 2-1 contest. The goal was the first of his career and marked the second UNCG freshman this season to score on a penalty kick (Tommi Gardarsson).
UNCG came close to tying the game in the 67th minute as DeAngelo sent a long ball that sprung Francois on the break. Canas charged out of his goal and was able to saved Francois' shot to keep Longwood in the lead.
The Spartans' pressure finally paid off in the 74th as they got a deep throw-in. Senior Justin Jones (Jamestown, N.C./Lees-McRae) took the throw and sent it into the 18-yard box where sophomore Corey Croegaert (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) flicked it towards the back post. Gamradt was there to pounce on the loose ball and jam into the back of the net, tying the game at 2-2. The goal was the first of the season for Gamradt and his seventh career goal.
Longwood responded to the UNCG goal in the 76th minute with a chance of its own. Zach Crandall found some space on the left-hand side and ripped a shot from eight-yards out but Griffin stood tall on his line to keep it a tie game. The two teams battled during both of the overtimes, but neither was able to find the game-winning goal ending in a 2-2 tie.
The Spartans return to action Tuesday night as they host Atlantic Coast Conference member Virginia Tech. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. Admission is FREE!
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