WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team started its 2021 spring season with a 2-0 setback to UNCW in a non-conference match Saturday night.
 
The host Seahawks scored a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes to earn the victory. This was UNCG's first competitive soccer match in 447 days. So being able to step onto the pitch was a small win.
 
"It was an incredible feeling to play a game again," UNCG head men's soccer coach Chris Rich said. "Everyone was excited to say the least but unfortunately, we weren't our best tonight. Even though everything wasn't clicking for us, our guys stayed together and competed. Conceding two goals in the last six minutes of the game is tough, but credit to UNCW as they deserved the result."

Now, the Spartans will look at film and prepare to get better as they navigate their remaining non-conference schedule. Offensively, UNCG got solid efforts from Maycol Reyes and Mani Austmann, who registered the Spartan shots on goal.
 
"I thought Myson Darden and Izaiah Vignali were our best players today," Rich said. "They both competed their butt off and were excellent defensively. We have a lot that we can learn from this game. We will reflect as a group and get better this week as we prepare for Davidson."
 
The Spartans return to action when they host Davidson in their home opener on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.