Box Score COLUMBIA, S.C. – Despite holding a 1-0 lead at halftime, the UNCG men's soccer team allowed two second half goals as the Spartans dropped a 2-1 decision at South Carolina Tuesday night at Stone Stadium. The Spartans will open Southern Conference play next Tuesday night when they travel to Furman.
The Spartans struck first on their first dangerous chance of the game in the 22nd minute of action. UNCG got the ball to junior forward Dustin Gamradt (Kiel, Germany/Hebbleschule) on the counter attack. Gamradt was able to possess the ball, turn and send a through ball behind the Gamecocks' defense. Senior forward Austin Miller (High Point, N.C./High Point Central) ran onto the ball and calmly touched it by the South Carolina goalkeeper, giving him a wide-open goal to deposit the ball into for the 1-0 UNCG lead. The goal was his first of the season and his 10th of his career.
South Carolina had a dangerous chance in the 24th minute but it came from distance. Coty Millard found some space from 30-yards out and ripped a bending shot towards goal, but it sailed wide of the goal past harmlessly.
The Spartans had their own chance from distance in the 38th minute of play off a free kick. Senior Aaron Reifschneider (Frisco, Texas/Frisco) took a touch from freshman Tommi Gardarsson (Commercial College of Iceland/Reykjavik, Iceland) and ripped a shot from 25-yards out that was saved by South Carolina goalkeeper Marco Velez.
The Spartans had another strong chance in the 45th minute off a long throw-in. Reifschneider sent the ball into the box where sophomore Corey Croegaert (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) flicked the ball from the near post towards the penalty spot. Freshman Neico Regent (Clarendon, Jamaica/American Heritage) sent a header towards goal, but Velez was in position to keep UNCG with just a one-goal lead.
South Carolina came out of the halftime and put early pressure on the Spartans. Millard had two chances in the first five minutes of the second half from inside the 18-yard box, but both times the shots sailed over the crossbar. In the 55th minute, Jeffrey Torda took down a long ball and got past his defender. Torda sent a shot from 15-yards on goal but freshman goalkeeper William Pyle (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) was there to thwart the effort keeping UNCG in the lead.
Pyle came up with a big save in the in the 56th minute as South Carolina had a great chance off a counter attack. Eli Dent got behind the Spartans defense and was alone on goal but Pyle saved his shot from close range and his rebound attempt was well high. Pyle continued to stand tall during the Gamecocks' push as he saved two shots from point blank from Mikkel Knudsen to keep the Spartans in the lead.
South Carolina finally broke through in the 68th minute of action off a corner kick. The initial ball was whipped into the 18-yard box and cleared by the Spartans. The ball came out to the top of the 18-yard box where Ive Burnett ripped a shot that deflected off a Spartans' defender, changed directions and skipped past Pyle to tie the game at 1-1.
The Gamecocks kept attacking and took advantage of another fortuitous bounce to take a 2-1 lead in the 75th minute. Ryan Arambula made a run down the left-hand side. He sent a ball towards goal and the Spartans cleared the initial attempt but the clearance came right back to Arambula who poked it past Pyle for the South Carolina lead.
Pyle finished the night with a career-high seven saves, including some stellar stops in the second half in just his second career collegiate game. Velez posted four saves for the Gamecocks who snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory.
The Spartans will be off this weekend before opening Southern Conference play next week. UNCG will travel to league-rival Furman Tuesday night for a 7 p.m. meeting against the Paladins.
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