| When: |
Thursday, August 26, 2021 |
| Where: |
UNCG Soccer Stadium -- Greensboro, N.C. |
| Time: |
7 p.m. |
| Live Stats: |
CLICK HERE |
| Live Streaming/Video: |
ESPN+ |
| UPDATE: |
*UPDATE* Face coverings will be required at our outdoor events. |
GREENSBORO, N.C. – It's showtime!
The curtain rises on the highly-anticipated 2021 UNC Greensboro men's soccer season when the Spartans host Campbell in a non-conference gem. It's a tough challenge for the Spartans to begin the campaign.
This is the first of a four-match homestand for the Spartans, favorites to win the Southern Conference. Campbell was picked second in the rugged Big South Conference. Both teams are receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Association preseason poll. Meanwhile, UNCG is ranked 30th in the Top Drawer Soccer national poll.
The matchup between a pair of quality programs who are talented, deep, and well-coached should be fun. It's a great barometer for each team.
"We expect a difficult game," UNCG head coach
Chris Rich said.
RECORDS
UNCG 9-3-2 in Spring 2021 (NCAA Tournament qualifier)
Campbell 8-2-2 in Spring 2021 (lost in PK's in Big South tournament)
QUICK LOOK AT UNCG
UNCG returns 21 players from last spring's squad, including All-SoCon honorees: sophomore forward
Theo Collomb, sophomore defender
Emmanuel Hagan, sophomore goalie
Niclas Wild, and senior midfielder
Fernando Garcia.
Collomb led the SoCon with eight goals last season. Wild and Hagan anchored a defensive unit that recorded six clean sheets. Garcia, an anchor in the midfield, tallied five goals.
Senior forward
Micah Albert was an All-SoCon First Team selection in 2019. So, if you add him to last year's All-SoCon quartet, that's five Spartans who have earned All-Conference recognition during their careers. Senior
Matthew Cutler and sophomore Sam Coad had four assists each, which tied for the team lead last season.
Nationally last season, UNCG ranked 12th in total goals (27) and corner kicks per game (6.79), 19th in goal differential (+13), 20th in shots per game (14.64), 22nd in total points (73), 23rd in scoring offense (27), 30th in shots on goal per game (6.14), 32nd in winning percentage (.714), 33rd in total assists (19), 42nd in shutout percentage (.429), 43rd in points per game (5.21), and 49th in goals against average (.958).
A LOOK AT CAMPBELL
The Camels are 25-5-4 overall during the last two campaigns. Campbell returns nine players who have received Big South honors over the past two seasons. Among the nine returnees are four players who earned All-South Region status last spring, including Big South defensive player of the year
Franck Momo and freshman of the year
Sami Charaf Amal. The team returns its starting back four along with its top five scorers from a squad that finished fifth in the nation in goals scored per game (2.58).
UP NEXT
The Spartans remain home to host Gardner Webb on Sunday, August 29 at 7 p.m.
