GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer program is pumped for its first game against Omaha in the NCAA Division I Championship tournament.
The Spartans are one of 36 programs that are preparing for another soccer match. They'll be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd Thursday night at 6 p.m. when the tournament commences. UNCG is one of six sites around the state of North Carolina that will be hosting first and second round matches.
Thanks to its schedule, UNCG hasn't had to travel from campus since a contest at Wofford on March 30. The Spartans have enjoyed the comforts of home during the entire month of April.
The Spartans haven't played since beating Belmont, 1-0, on April 17. Omaha has been idle since a 2-1 overtime victory over Oral Roberts on April 2.
History Against Omaha: First meeting.
A Look At Omaha: Omaha ranks among the NCAA's top 50 in multiple categories, as the Hugo Kametani, the Newcomer of the Year, is tied for ninth in goals per game (0.78), tied for 13th in total goals (seven), tied for 15th in shots per game (3.56) tied for 19th in points per game (1.67) and tied for 35th in total points (15). Senior midfielder Nil Ayats is tied for 43rd with two game-winning goals, while redshirt senior goalkeeper Jeremy Pollard is tied for 33rd in shutouts (4) and ranks 46th with a 0.887 goals against average.
High-Five: UNCG had five players earn All-SoCon postseason recognition: freshman
Emmanuel Hagan (All-Freshman & First Team), freshman
Theo Collomb (Co-Freshman of the Year, All-Freshman & First Team), junior
Fernando Garcia (First Team), freshman
Niclas Wild (All-Freshman), and sophomore
Mani Austmann (Second Team).
Late Game Thunder: UNCG has scored three goals in the final two minutes and overtime of matches this season:
Matthew Cutler scored in the 89th minute to help UNCG earn a 1-1 tie at Mercer on March 13. Austmann scored a penalty-kick goal with two seconds remaining to force overtime against Belmont on March 27. In the same game, Collomb scored the game-winning goal with 1:11 remaining in overtime for a 3-2 victory.
Double Up: Garcia has two matches this season in which he scored two goals (Belmont Abbey and VMI).
Players of the Week: UNCG has earned its share of SoCon weekly accolades.
Myson Darden (Defensive Player of the Week) and Austmann (Offensive Player of the Week) on March 9. Collomb (Offensive Player of the Week) on March 30 and Wild (Defensive Player of the Week) on April 6.
Rolling: The Spartans enter the NCAA Tournament with a six-match unbeaten streak. They have outscored opponents, 11-3, during that stretch. UNCG has also produced four clean sheets.
NCAA Kings: UNCG has won five NCAA Division III championships (1982, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1987). This will the 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament for UNCG. In 15 of its 19 appearances to the NCAA Tournament, UNCG has won at least one game. In 2006, UNCG defeated Virginia Tech, 2-1, in the first round and West Virginia, 2-1, in overtime in a second- round game before falling to Northwestern in the third round.
Up Next: The winner plays No. 4 Stanford on Sunday, May 2 at 5 p.m.
FAN FAQ'S
I saw you are sold out - do the first 150 UNCG students still get admitted for free?
- Yes. The first 150 UNCG students, with a valid UNCG ID, do receive free admission. These seats have been accounted for.
Gates open at 5 pm - arrive early!
Who will receive the free 150 UNCG soccer scarves?
- This giveaway is for UNCG students. The first 150 students in line that receive free admission will also receive the free soccer scarf.
Can we bring drums or noisemakers to the soccer match?
Drums are allowed at the soccer match. Only amplified noisemakers are not allowed (i.e. airhorns, whistles, bullhorns are not allowed)
To confirm, there will not be any walk-up sales Thursday evening for students or general public?
Correct. We are sold out and there will not be tickets available for purchase Thursday.
Are you also sold out for the Second Round on Sunday?
No, we currently have a limited amount of tickets available for both soccer matches on Sunday. Call the UNCG
Ticket Office at 336-334-3250 to purchase.
What time does Will Call open?
Will Call opens 2 hours prior to the match Thursday, beginning at 4 pm. Gates open at 5 pm.
