GREENSBORO, N.C. - Despite an impressive effort in the second half, UNCG women's soccer was unable to find the equalizer against Furman on Sunday, as the Paladins walk away with a 1-0 win. The Spartans reeled off nine shots in the latter 45 minutes of their match with visiting Furman, but it was the visitors who found the winning marker in the latter 45 minutes.

While the Paladins held the greater portion of possession in the opening half, the Spartan defense kept their opponents' opportunities to a minimum, allowing just two of Furman's attempts in the half to reach frame. The UNCG back four forced the Paladins to steer four shots wide of target, while blocking three of the team's nine shots. 

The Spartans worked the counter attack to perfection in the first, with the biggest opportunity for either side likely coming from sophomore forward Maddy Gilhool in the 11th minute. Picking up possession from 10 yards inside her own half, Gilhool made a run all the way to the edge of the opposing 18. The forward blazed past a pair of Furman players before her cut to the middle of the pitch left the remaining Paladin back dead to rights. Gilhool's shot was taken with pace but was directed just a shade too close to the Furman keeper, who was able to gobble up the opportunity and keep things scoreless.

Stuck in a 0-0 tie at the start of the second half the Spartans were the apparent favorites to take the first marker of the afternoon. Coach Michael Coll side saw a shot sail wide of it's mark in the 56th before reeling off five shots in five minutes after the 60th minute. 

Looking for her third goal of the past four matches, Ashley Avelino joined the attack during a corner opportunity 15 minutes into the half. The Spartan center back beat her mark to get an open header from seven yards out, but a crowded six-yard box blocked the redshirt sophomore's attempt which looked destined for the bottom right corner. 

The Furman keeper would have a short respite from that scare with Quiqui Hita nearly finding the go-ahead less than two minutes later. While the senior's shot came from over 25 yards out, her accuracy in aiming for the bottom left corner forced the Paladins' netminder to go to a full stretch to avoid giving up the first goal of the contest. 

Although the field was tilting further in the home team's favor, the Paladins found themselves with a corner kick opportunity in the 71st, scoring the first of the night on a near post header directly off the set piece delivery.

Left back Parker Sikora tested the keeper one last time before the end of Sunday's contest, as the Spartans outshot the visitors 8-4 in the final 30 minutes. Time would eventually run out on Coll's side however as the equalizer was not in the cards in UNCG's second SoCon loss of 2021.

>>> Despite taking the loss to Furman, the Spartans have allowed just a single goal in their last three competitions, shutting out Wofford and Western Carolina before this Sunday's match
>>> UNCG drew five corners in the final 45 minutes to Furman's one, while outshooting the Paladins 9-8 in the closing half
>>> Nicole Souply pulled the trigger a team-high four times, while Gilhool had a pair of attempts at net herself

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