CONWAY, S.C. – Marco Milanese was in the perfect place at the right time.
Alone in front of the net, Milanese scored the game-winning goal in the 99th minute of the first overtime off an
Angel Bacho corner kick to lift the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team to a thrilling, 1-0, road victory over Coastal Carolina Tuesday night at the Coastal Carolina Soccer Stadium in an entertaining non-conference match.
It's the second time this season that a Bacho corner kick resulted in a game-winning goal. He did it against Stetson. This one though was meaningful because of the quality of opponent that the Spartans defeated.
Not only did Coastal Carolina win the Sun Belt Tournament this past spring and participate in the NCAA Tournament, but it also sat in first place in Conference USA after changing conferences. The same conference in which reigning national champion Marshall resides. In addition, Coastal Carolina was ranked seventh in the Southeast region entering the game. So that's wins over a Conference USA and ACC programs in the space of seven days.
Once Milanese's shot reached its target, he immediately removed his shirt, excitedly sprinted and was eventually swallowed beneath a gaggle of his blue-shirted teammates in the far corner where the decisive corner kick started. The Akron transfer will always remember his first goal as Spartan. He played every minute of the tense contest.
It has been a whirlwind week for the UNCG men's soccer program.
The Spartans entered the contest receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches national poll and ranked fifth in the South region. It's the highest regional ranking under third-year head coach
Chris Rich. UNCG swept the Southern Conference weekly awards as
Theo Collomb and
Emmanuel Hagan were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.
Quotable
Milanese on the victory.
"This was one of the hardest games we played as a team. The field was bumpy. We defended and fought well. I am so happy for the team. It's always great to finish with a clean sheet. I am proud of how we defended as a team. To win here against a top opponent, is amazing. We just must keep going now. Mercer is coming so our job is to stay focused."
Milanese on the game-winning goal.
"It's something I will remember for a long time. It was late in overtime and we had a set piece thanks to the corner kick. We decided to play as fast as we could. Bacho delivered a nice kick, (Emmanuel) Hagan challenged the keeper, the ball stayed there, and I just threw myself on the ball. It went in."
Inside the Numbers
- Niclas Wild notched his fifth clean sheet of the season and the 10th of his career.
- This was UNCG's sixth clean sheet this year.
- UNCG outshot Coastal Carolina, 12-4 and 9-2 after intermission.
- Milanese, J.C. Ngando, and Fernando Garcia led UNCG with two shots each.
- The Spartans extended their unbeaten streak to six matches.
- UNCG has outscored opponents, 22-1, during that stretch.
- UNCG has a seven-match road unbeaten streak dating back to last season.
Up Next
- UNCG returns to Southern Conference play when it hosts Mercer Saturday at 7 p.m. It'll be a showdown for first place.
