Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's soccer team began its title defense of the Southern Conference regular season championship Tuesday afternoon with a 4-0 victory in the 2016 league opener against VMI at Patchin Field.
The victory improved the Spartans to 5-2-2 on the season and 1-0-0 in league play while running their unbeaten streak to six straight SoCon openers. The Spartans out-shot the Keydets by a 20-4 margin in the victory while improving to 13-0-0 all-time against VMI.
The Spartans scored the first goal of the day just 15:04 into the game. Senior forward Damieon Thomas (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Georgia Military Institute) made a run into the box on the right side and was able to turn the corner on the end line. Thomas slotted a pass back through the defense to the top of the 18-yard box where junior midfielder Rouven Wahlfeldt (Velbert, Germany/Gymnasium Waldstrasse) ripped his first touch into the bottom corner past a diving Mason Worsham for his first goal of the year.
UNCG extended its lead to 2-0 in the 31st minute of play as it once again made something happen down the right-hand side. Sophomore Austin Matthews (New Kent, Va./West Point) was able to turn the corner on the VMI defender and find Thomas alone inside the box. He calmly beat Worsham from 10-yards out for his team-leading sixth goal of the year.
The Spartans played 21 players in the victory as they registered 10 shots in each half. UNCG took a 3-0 lead in the 70th minute of play. Redshirt freshman Lysten Thomas (Douglasville, Ga./Douglas County) made a run down the left-hand side and ripped a cross into the box. Worsham was able to get a hand on the cross, but it popped right out in front where Jesper Larsson (Halmstad, Sweden/Marquette) was there to deposit it into the back of the net for his first career goal as a Spartan.
UNCG closed out the scoring in the 76th minute of play as it took advantage of a free kick opportunity. Senior midfielder Ricky Chavez (Barranquilla, Columbia/UNC Pembroke) stepped up and ripped a shot from 25-yards out into the top corner for the 4-0 lead and his first career goal as a Spartan.
Senior goalkeeper Logan Rohde (Cary, N.C./Greensboro College) posted his fourth shutout of the season in the victory as he made one save. Worsham was credited with six saves for the Keydets, who fall to 0-7-0 on the year and 0-2-0 in SoCon play.
The Spartans open the home portion of the league schedule Saturday night when they welcome in Furman. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium and will be broadcast on the SoCon Digital Network.
-- UNCG --
