GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's soccer team fell behind just 2:04 into the game after an early penalty kick and the Spartans could not claw back Friday night falling to No. 19 Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. The Spartans return home for their second-straight game against a nationally ranked opponent when they host No. 3 North Carolina. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.

Coastal Carolina opened the scoring in just the third minute of the game as the Spartans were whistled for a handball in the box 2:04 into the contest. Martin Melchor stepped up for the Chanticleers and beat junior goalkeeper Jon Milligan (Mount Pleasant, S.C./Wando) on the penalty kick for the early lead.

The Spartans started to settle in but Coastal Carolina held a 5-3 edge in shots in the first half and a 4-0 lead in corner kicks. The Chanticleers extended their lead to 2-0 in the 25th minute as preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Frantzdy Pierrot scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Melchor.

UNCG was the aggressor in the second half, holding a 6-2 edge in corner kicks but could not beat CCU goalkeeper Braulio Linares-Ortiz. Sophomore defender Casey Penland (High Point, N.C./High Point Christian) led the way with three shots while senior forward Nicholas Downs (Great Falls, Mont./Charles M. Russell) added a pair of shots in the loss.

Milligan posted four saves in the loss Friday while Linares-Ortiz recorded three saves in the first half and Alex Boullinnec added a save in the second half for the combined shutout. Coastal Carolina played a physical brand of soccer all night, earning five yellow cards and being called for 14 fouls compared to five for UNCG.

 -- UNCG --