GREENSBORO, N.C. – There must be something about corner kicks and the Skinner brothers that's good for the soul.
And great for the UNCG men's soccer program.
For the second consecutive contest, a goal off a corner kick from a Skinner proved to be critical as the Spartans edged Stetson, 3-2, in a non-conference match at the UNCG Soccer Stadium Friday night.
In a win earlier this week against Gardner-Webb, it was freshman Joey's header off a corner late in the first half that started UNCG on its winning path.
Against Stetson,
Matthew Skinner, the older brother, delivered when it mattered most thanks to a beautifully placed corner kick from
Angel Bacho to lift UNCG to a satisfying triumph in the first matchup against Stetson since 2006.
Matt and Joey are cherishing each opportunity they get to play together as teammates.
"I couldn't let the little brother have all the glory," a smiling Matt Skinner said following the match. "I had to get (a goal) too. It's amazing playing with Joey. A big reason of why he came here was because of me and I love playing with him."
The ball found Skinner among a tight knot of sweaty and tired bodies in front of the net with 5 minutes, 51 seconds remaining. It snapped a 2-2 tie. Matt got a body part on the ball and redirected it into the net triggering a wild celebration.
"Angel played a great ball, and I got a little flick on it and it just went in," said Skinner of his game-winning goal. "It was fun. We have a play where we all just crowd the line and I got to give thanks to Angel because he played a great ball in. He did exactly what we needed, and the rest is history."
Many thought Bacho scored from the corner, including him as it look like the ball squirted through the box untouched.
"I thought I scored from there," Bacho said. "I tried to kind of shoot it at the same time. I saw where their keeper was playing. Then, I saw that all our players and their players were congested, and I knew it would be hard for the keeper to get out and win the ball. I just tried to put the ball over top of his head. Hopefully it goes in the net. At the same time, I was hoping one of our players could get a touch as well."
It was Bacho's second consecutive corner kick. Moments earlier, he took one from the corner near UNCG's bench. Then, he found a sweet spot -- the far corner opposite his bench. He unleashed a powerful blast that befuddled Stetson's stunned defenders.
A corner kick specialist, Bacho had two assists to lead the Spartans, who got a pair of goals from
Theo Collomb in the first half as UNCG enjoyed a 2-0 halftime edge. Collomb has three goals this season and 11 for his career.
Daniel Mangarov, who raced around the field all game, had the assist on Collomb's first goal in the 16th minute.
Stetson made UNCG nervous in the second half with a pair of flurries that resulted in goals from Oliver Bryneus and William Stuart. The second goal knotted the game at 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining.
The Spartans showcased their championship traits of poise, resilience, and patience to put themselves in position to win the game.
Now, UNCG will turn its focus to Saint Joseph's on Sunday afternoon to finish a four-game homestand. Kick-off is at 3 p.m.
