GREENSBORO, N.C. – Before anybody overreacts to one game, remember the UNC Greensboro men's soccer team dropped its opener in the spring by a two-goal margin.
UNCG went on to enjoy a special season that concluded with a Southern Conference tournament championship and a NCAA appearance.
There are strong indications that the Spartans will do the same in 2021 despite dropping a 3-1 decision to visiting Campbell in their season opener Thursday at the UNCG Soccer Stadium before 1,241 fans.
Sophomore
Theo Collomb scored UNCG's lone goal, a breakaway in the 32nd minute. It was the ninth of his career.
After allowing a pair of goals in the opening four minutes, UNCG displayed bursts of brilliance during the match and offered glimpses of their dynamic potential for long stretches. They applied pressure, had some quality scoring chances to score the equalizer in the second half, displayed resilience, and controlled possession for most of the contest.
Records
Campbell 1-0
UNCG 0-1
Quotable
UNCG head coach Chris Rich on the game.
"We're still growing as a group and we have a lot to learn. We're far from a finished product. Campbell is a top team and well-coached. Them scoring two goals in the first three minutes was a huge dagger for us."
Rich on the positives he can take from this contest.
"The biggest positive was when we went down 2-0, we still fought and still believed we would win. At halftime, the entire group thought we were going to win that game. The fight was there. The desire was there. Even with those early mistakes, our belief and willingness to win was still there."
How It Happened
- Campbell's Tyler Young scored two goals before fans had a chance to get comfortable.
- Young scored a breakaway tally 2 minutes, 27 seconds into the contest.
- He doubled the Fighting Camels advantage with another goal 54 seconds later off of a scramble in the box.
- Those were Campbell's only two shots of the first half.
- UNCG dominated the final 40 minutes of the first half.
- Fernando Garcia had UNCG's first three shots of the contest, including a bicycle-kick attempt that sailed wide of the net.
- The Spartans hard work yielded seven shots and four corners in the first half.
- The play of the game was Campbell's goalie Edu Rodriguez stopping Collomb's penalty kick in the 50th minute.
- Collomb went to the right and so did Rodriguez who deflected the shot harmlessly away.
- Still trailing, 2-1, UNCG had four of its 11 corner kicks in a two-minute stretch that yielded numerous quality opportunities.
- Campbell iced the game in the 84th minute when Gerard Broussard scored a breakaway goal.
Numbers To Know
- It was the Fighting Camels' second consecutive win over UNCG.
- Garcia and Collomb combined for 10 of UNCG's 16 shots.
- Niclas Wild made two saves for UNCG.
Up Next
- UNCG continues its season-opening four-match homestand when it hosts Gardner-Webb Sunday at 7 p.m.
