Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Schedule

Full Schedule

UNC Greensboro

uncg
0
UNC Greensboro UNC (3-2-1, 0-0-0)
0
Virginia UVA (2-2-1, 0-1-0)
UNC Greensboro UNC
(3-2-1, 0-0-0)
0
Final
0
Virginia UVA
(2-2-1, 0-1-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT-2 OT 1 F
UNC Greensboro UNC 0 0 0 0 0
Virginia UVA 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | by Rob Knox, Associate AD for Strategic Communications

UNCG Earns Road Point At Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Bright lights. Big game. Large crowd.
 
It was the perfect vibe for UNC Greensboro senior defender Marco Milanese, who was in his element. He's used to the huge atmosphere of a major men's soccer match against a quality opponent. After all, he's played in a national championship contest when he attended Akron.
 
Milanese was a steadying force for the Spartans during a 0-0 road draw against Virginia in an action-packed match on a postcard-perfect evening at Klöckner Stadium before a spirited crowd Tuesday night.
 
"I told them that if we wanted to be a top program like we wanted to be then we need this type of game," Milanese said. "We don't have to be scared. We just have to be confident playing in a big stadium. I think we had a great response from the guys. We defended good and weathered the storm. A tie is not the best, but it's good to get a point on the road."
 
The Spartans were clearly inspired as they controlled the first half.
 
Daniel Mangarov had a shot that sailed just wide of the net – a low laser on the ground that got past the keeper, but tantalizingly rolled right of its intended target. Micah Albert fired a blast into the gut of the Virginia keeper later in the half.
 
Theo Quartey had a room-service cross in front of the goal that went unanswered.
 
"We played well in the first half, created some chances and if we were a little more composed, we could've scored," Milanese said. "I proud of the performance of the team. We are starting to get better. I am also proud of the character of these guys as many of them hadn't played a big game like this before."
 
This was UNCG's second consecutive clean sheet. The sterling performance of Milanese along with Emmanuel Hagan, Ethan Conley, Joey Skinner, and Niclas Wild extended UNCG's scoreless streak to 200 minutes.  
Of course, most men's soccer programs outside of the Atlantic Coast Conference would be thrilled with a road draw against Virginia.
 
UNCG isn't one of those programs.
 
Don't get it twisted, third-year UNCG head coach Chris Rich will happily take the hard-earned point and speed down highway 29 back to campus.
 
"Virginia is a top program and one of the best college soccer programs in the country," Rich said. "So, we're disappointed not to win. We came here to win and disappointed to come out with a draw. But super proud of the guys. We were just missing that one moment and needed that one extra bit of quality in the attacking third. We had a lot of almost moments, but it wasn't quite there."
 
 
The Spartans came expecting to win as they went toe-to-toe with the Cavaliers. They created quality scoring opportunities and were the better team for most of the match.
 
So instead of focusing on wide shots, missed connections, and tough bounces, the Spartans will take the positives from this match and build off them.
 
UNCG had three corner kick opportunities in the final 25 minutes and a pair of strong scoring chances in overtime, including a free kick deep in its offensive third with 22 seconds left in the second overtime.
 
"It was a very good performance," Rich said. "I thought we started the game off very well. Virginia adapted and made a couple of good chances that ended up causing us some problems, but I thought for the first 25-30 minutes we were outstanding. They are a good team and so are we."
 
Up Next
UNCG will host Radford on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version