Who: vs. ETSU When: Saturday, October 15 Where: Greensboro, N.C. | UNCG Soccer Stadium Time: 7:00 p.m. Tickets: FREE Admission Promotion: The first 100 students will receive a free bucket hat. Live Stats | ESPN+ This game is presented by Pepsi.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The No. 23 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team took a midweek trip to Clemson, South Carolina this week and defeated No. 18 Clemson for the second-straight season in upset fashion.
 
Now, the Spartans must turn around and content Southern Conference (SoCon) foe East Tennessee State University (ETSU) on Saturday night.
 
Not only is it a battle for the sole top spot since both teams are 2-0 in the conference, but it is also the night that the Spartans are recognizing their six seniors: Maycol Reyes, Marco Milanese, Izaiah Vignali, Cameron Fowler, Ismail El Harchi, and Marco Afonso.
 
RPI RANKINGS

• The Spartans are unbeaten against four teams in the top 40: SMU (No. 6), Clemson (No. 7), Louisville (No. 8), and Elon (No. 39).
• UNCG is the top SoCon team in the rankings, as Furman is next at No. 138.
• UNCG is the third school from North Carolina in the rankings as Duke is No. 2 and Wake Forest is No. 16. 

CLIMBING HIGH

• UNCG earned its first United Soccer Coaches national ranking after starting the season 4-0.
• The squad is No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches South Regional poll and No. 23 in the national poll.
• The Spartans are the highest non-ACC school ranked in the region.
• Most recently, UNCG earned a No. 21 ranking from College Soccer News and earned a No. 13 ranking from TopDrawerSoccer.

AMONG THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

• 4^th in goal differential (23)
• 4^th in total goals (32)
• 7^th in total points (93)
• 12^th in won-lost-tied percentage (0.808)
• 13^th in total assists (29)
• 15^th in teams goals against average (0.692)
• 16^th in scoring offense (2.46)
• 17^th in points per game (7.15)
• 18^th in corner kicks per game (6.85)
• 19^th in assists per game (2.23)
• 20^th in shots on goal per game (6.92)
• 21^st in shot accuracy (0.489)

SPARTANS AMONG THE NATION

• Niclas Wild – 15th in goalie minutes played (1080:00), 29th in goals against average (0.750), 37th in shutouts (4)
• J.C. Ngando – 1st in total assists (10), 2^nd in assists per game (0.77), 24th in total points (16).
• Ismail El Harchi – 1^st in shot accuracy (0.680), 9^th in game-winning goals (3), 39^th in total points (15), 41^st in total goals (6), 46^th in shot on goal per game (1.42).

AWARDS

• UNCG swept three-straight SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors and added its fourth and fifth of the season with Ismail El Harchi earning the last two.
  • Steven Hernandez (Sept. 6)
  • Marco Afonso (Sept. 13)
  • JC Ngando (Sept. 20)
  • Ismail El Harchi (Oct. 4 & Oct. 11)
• The Spartans also had Niclas Wild be named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 20.
• Afonso was also recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.
• Hernandez was named to College Soccer News Team of the Week.

LAST TIME OUT

• UNCG edged No. 18 Clemson for the second-straight season, 2-1.
• This was the second Atlantic Coast Conference and ranked match for UNCG this season, as it now has a 1-0-1 mark against ACC.
• Marco Afonso scored his fourth goal and fifth assist of the season.
• J.C. Ngando tallied his 10^th helper of the season.
• Ethan Conley recorded his first-career goal and game winner.
• Basile Marc registered his second assist of the season.
• Clemson outshot UNCG 9-5.

SOCON PRESEASON POLL & AWARDS
UNCG was voted to take the title in the Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Coaches Poll after winning the 2021 Regular Season Title.
Release
 
J.C. Ngando, Emmanuel Hagan, Marco Milanese, and Niclas Wild all earned Preseason All-Conference recognition.
 
SCOUTING ETSU

• The Bucs own a 6-4-1 overall record and a 2-0 conference mark.
• ETSU is 3-2-1 away from home, winning the last two road matches.
• The Bucs hold a +11 goal margin, scoring 19 goals.
• Kieran Richards leads the Bucs with eight goals and 18 points.
• ETSU defeated Wofford 3-0 last time out in Spartanburg, S.C.
• ETSU has outshot its opponents 56-36.
• Cole Hunter has played in 10 matches for the Bucs allowing just six goals for .60 goals against average.
• He has totaled 25 saves with a 6-3-1 record.

ALL-TIME HISTORY

• The Bucs own a 6-7-6 all-time record against the Spartans.
• The last matchup included a 2-0 shutout win for UNCG.
• The Bucs are 4-3-3 when playing in Greensboro, N.C.