GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman Joey Skinner helped the UNC Greensboro men's soccer team groove to a winning rhythm with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 victory over Gardner-Webb Sunday evening at steamy UNCG Soccer Stadium.
Skinner's first tally two minutes before intermission was a beauty. He took a perfect pass off
Theo Quartey's corner kick and headed the ball into the back of the net for his first career collegiate goal.
Using his head to score goals is nothing new for Skinner. He admitted following the match that four of his goals were headers during his senior season in high school.
Later in the match, Skinner threaded a nice pass to
Angel Bacho, who lasered the ball into the net in the 75th minute. That was all the Spartans needed to earn their first victory of the 2021 campaign.
Niclas Wild made one key save early when the match was scoreless to post his sixth career clean sheet. The Runnin' Bulldogs attempted two shots.
The Spartans used a spirited defensive effort along with a solid job of possessing the ball for long periods – old-school classics that never go out of style. Leading UNCG's defensive charge was
Emmanuel Hagan,
Marco Milanese,
Matthew Skinner and
Ethan Conley.
Quotable
Skinner on his goal.
"They called the play, which means it's going to be a near-post run. I went to the near post and the ball came to me perfectly. All I did was re-direct it. It's a great feeling when you score a goal. When it's your first college goal, it's an amazing feeling. I went straight to the team and coaches to celebrate."
Skinner on his assist to Bacho and how he's adjusting to college soccer.
"Angel made a run and pointed for the ball. He did most of the work, but I am happy to contribute a goal and an assist in my second game. The transition has been smooth for me. I knew how UNCG played. I had to get used to playing college soccer. Once I did that, I felt comfortable and now I have to keep moving forward."
Inside the Numbers
- UNCG improved to 5-0 all-time against Gardner-Webb.
- Bacho and Basile Marc led UNCG with three shots each.
- Quartey notched his fifth career assist. He had four during his career at Villanova.
- The Spartans haven't lost consecutive regular-season matches since October 2019.
- UNCG is averaging 12.5 shots per match in its first two contests.
- Gardner-Webb had three corner kicks in the second half.
Up Next
- UNCG remains home to host Stetson on Friday, September 3 at 7 p.m.
