Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's soccer team suffered just its second loss of the season as the Spartans dropped a hard fought 3-2 double overtime contest to visiting North Florida at the UNCG Soccer Stadium Friday night. North Florida converted a penalty kick in the 108th minute of play to steal the victory from the Spartans.
The Spartans opened the scoring just 2:29 into the game, taking advantage of a free kick in the midfield. Freshman Leeroy Maguraushe (Milton Keynes, England/Stantonbury) worked a give-and-go with junior defender Jordan Poarch (Middletown, Del./Virginia). Poarch dropped off the pass to Maguraushe at the top of the 18-yard box. Maguraushe took his first touch and ripped a shot into the top corner past UNF goalkeeper Kyle Nasta for a 1-0 lead.
North Florida tied the game in the 18th minute of action as it took advantage of a free kick. Simen Solstad took the shot from the 20-yard out that senior goalkeeper Logan Rohde (Cary, N.C./Greensboro College) was able to save, but the rebound popped out in front of the net. Midfielder Jay Bolt pounced on the loose ball and poked it into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
The Spartans retook the lead just minutes later in the 22nd minute of action. Redshirt sophomore midfielder Rouven Wahlfeldt (Velbert, Germany/Gymnasium Waldstrasse) attempted a bicycle kick off a wild flurry. The ball got past the goalkeeper and was heading towards goal, but a UNF defender stopped the ball but was called for a handball on the play, awarding the Spartans a penalty kick. Maguraushe stepped up and calmly buried the try into the top corner for the 2-1 lead for the Spartans. The goal was the team-leading fourth of the season for Maguraushe and his second penalty kick converted on the year.
North Florida came out in the second half and controlled the run of play against the Spartans, posting an 11-2 edge in shots in the second 45. The Ospreys tied the game in the 60th minute of play as Ivan Castro sent a cross into the box where Drew Spragg was there to head it home for the 2-2 score.
North Florida continued to attack and in the 74th minute had a couple of chances in a quick succession. Solstad ripped a shot from 25-yards out off a clearance that Rohde was able to save. The rebound came out to Spragg and his first shot was also saved while his second shot sailed just wide of the goal post.
UNCG had its best chance of the second half just seconds later. Senior forward Jacques Francois (Port Au Prince, Haiti/Louisburg College) sent a through ball to classmate Ben Burdon (Charlotte, N.C./High Point). Burdon got behind the defense and scorched a shot past Nasta but it curved around the goalpost and out of play.
The two teams headed to overtime and the Spartans were the aggressors in the first extra period. Junior Nicholas Downs (Great Falls, Mont./Charles M. Russell) had a chance in the 92nd minute form 18-yards out but Nasta was able to punch the ball away from danger.
UNF came down and had a golden opportunity in the 94th minute. Milan Kovacs got behind the UNCG defense and was one-on-one with Rohde but he made a diving save to keep the game going.
The Spartans had arguably their best chance since the first half in the 97th minute of play. Burdon got behind the UNF defense and lifted a shot that was destined for the goal but Nasta made a back-pedaling sprawling save to keep the ball barely out of the net to send the game into the second overtime period.
North Florida gained control in the second overtime as it registered all three shots in the period. The game looked headed for a tie until the 108th minute of play. Alex Morrell made a run against the UNCG defense and got behind the last defender when a UNCG player was called for the foul in the box. Helge Pietschmann stepped up for the Ospreys and buried the ensuing penalty kick for the game-winning goal at 107:12.
The Ospreys finished the game with a 20-8 edge in shots, including an 11-2 advantage in the second half. Rohde finished with five saves in the loss while Nasta tallied two but both were huge in the overtime period.
The Spartans return to action in less than 48 hours as they host Jacksonville Sunday afternoon. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
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