NASHVILLE, TN. – The 16th-ranked UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Belmont in a Southern Conference contest at windy E.S. Rose Park Saturday night.
Belmont remained perfect at home this season and earned its first victory over UNCG in program history by scoring twice after intermission. The loss snapped UNCG's six-match winning streak and eight-match unbeaten streak.
Again, as disappointing as this setback is, UNCG is still in prime position to accomplish every meaningful goal it has of winning the SoCon Tournament, participating and advancing in the NCAA Tournament.
Quotable
UNCG head coach Chris Rich on the match.
"This is a disappointing night for us. We missed an opportunity to put the game away early in the first half as we created 4-5 very good chances where we should have scored. Unfortunately, we weren't sharp enough in front of goal and their goalkeeper was excellent. At the end of the day, we need to be better in those moments.
"Our second half performance was not good enough. We did not defend our box well. Credit to Belmont as they out-competed us in the second half and were very opportunistic on crosses and set pieces. We need to learn from this as we need to be better."
How It Happened
- Belmont made the most of its opportunities in the second half.
- The Bruin goals were scored off rebounds and hustle.
- Belmont's franchise player A.J. Chastonay scored the decisive goal in the 81st minute.
- The Bruins tied the match at 1-1 when Liam O'Brien followed up his first shot that hit the top of the crossbar and headed the ricochetted ball into the net.
- It was the first goals allowed in SoCon play by the Spartans this season.
- UNCG had some solid chances early in the second half, but just couldn't finish.
- This was also the first time UNCG trailed in the second half of a match since Sept. 5.
- Everything looked great for the mighty Spartans early as J.C. Ngando scored a header nine minutes into the contest for a 1-0 UNCG lead.
- The Spartans fired a barrage of quality shots following that goal, but Belmont's keeper Drew Romig made a huge save on a Theo Collomb shot.
- Another UNCG shot was high of an open net.
- Belmont opened with two corner kicks in the first three minutes.
What Does This Mean
- UNCG has two SoCon matches remaining against Wofford (Oct. 23) and ETSU (Oct. 30).
- If UNCG and Belmont ends up tied at 5-1 in the final regular season standings, Belmont would earn the No. 1 seed and host every match it plays in the SoCon Tournament including the championship match.
- Belmont is sitting in the Catbird Seat in regards to securing the No.1 seed in the conference tournament.
Inside the Numbers
- UNCG outshot Belmont, 22-9.
- In its three losses this season, UNCG has scored exactly one goal in each contest.
- UNCG is 9-0-1 when it scores more than once in a match this season.
- Niclas Wild made four saves, including a big one midway through the second half to keep the match tied, 1-1.
- Collomb, Ngando, and Theo Quartey combined for 14 shots.
Up Next
- UNCG hosts USC Upstate in its penultimate regular season home match of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
