SoCon Announces Men's Soccer Weekly Honors
 
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer senior Ethan Conley was selected by the Southern Conference (SoCon) as Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Conley helped UNCG to a 1-0-1 record as the Spartans picked up a 2-1 win over No. 18 Clemson on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and played to a 1-1 draw against conference opponent ETSU on Saturday. The native of Wheaton, Illinois, recorded his first-career goal and game-winner in the Spartans' win over the Tigers on Tuesday, with the senior connecting on a Basile Marc cross into the six-yard box in the 62nd minute of the match to fire the ball under the crossbar and into the net for the eventual game-winning goal. Conley played a vital part on defense this week for the Spartans, who are now 1-0-1 against ACC teams, and has now appeared in 14 matches this season, including starts in the last two contests.
 
Last week, the Spartans received a No. 17 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll and a No. 4 ranking in the South Region Poll. The Spartans also earned a No. 19 ranking in the second RPI report of the 2022-23 campaign released on Monday, Oct. 17, and are currently ranked No. 19 in the College Soccer News Poll and No. 13 by Top Drawer Soccer.
 
From Conley
"It's a great feeling to be recognized for a special performance. There are a few guys from the team that I believe could have gotten recognition for defensive performances. It has been a great month so far, on the field and off the field. I have felt God's presence in my life and awards like this are a blessing from Him."
 
"What a goal! In a tough moment, after we had just conceded a goal, we didn't put our heads down. Watching it back, the movement was perfect. I've gotten in similar positions this season and been off by a few inches so to get rewarded for a hard run to the near post after a 50-yard sprint is amazing. To score in front of my family magnified the special moment. A win away from home against a team like Clemson doesn't change the team's mindset at all. We knew that victory wasn't an upset and because we approached it like any other game, we got what we usually get, a win."
 
Up Next
UNCG is 9-1-4 overall and 2-0-1 in SoCon play and will travel to Macon, Georgia on Saturday, October 22 for a conference battle against Mercer at 7:00 p.m.