GREENSBORO, N.C. – The No. 7 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team captured its fifth Southern Conference (SoCon) Tournament title to earn an automatic bid into the 2022 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament.
With the bid, UNCG will learn its fate during the NCAA Selection show on Monday at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.
The Spartans defeated the third-seeded Mercer Bears, 2-1, Saturday night at UNCG Soccer Stadium in the 2022 SoCon Championship. UNCG won its second Tournament title in three years, the most recent during the 2020-21 spring season. UNCG earned its fourth SoCon double crown in program history (Regular and Tournament Championships). The last time they won the double was 2006. The Spartans also won it in 2005 and 1998.
With the win at UNCG Soccer Stadium, the Spartans extended its unbeaten streak to 9-0-1 at home. This is the first undefeated season at home since 2002, when the team went 8-0.
The Spartans entered the match ranked seventh in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and 12th in the NCAA RPI rankings. UNCG is also third in the United Soccer Coaches South Region poll and ninth in the TopDrawerSoccer and eighth College Soccer News Division I polls.
From Head Coach Chris Rich
"Tonight was a special moment for UNCG. Winning the regular season championship was awesome, but to win that and the tournament is truly incredible. I am so proud of the guys, and so happy for our university, alumni, staff, and players.
Huge shout out to that crowd! The fans were fantastic all night. To see all the students, band, dance team, cheer team, staff, and the many alums at the stadium is just incredible. They truly made the difference, and we hope to see them again if we get the opportunity to host in the NCAA Tournament!"
How it Happened
The match began with the Spartans taking control. Possession toggled between the two teams, even though UNCG outshot Mercer 7-2 during the first half. Fortunately for Mercer, a poor clearance by the Spartans set the Bears' Kadeem Agard up for a breakaway towards goal. He found the back of the net and put his team ahead 1-0 at 26:41.
Mercer's lead was short lived however, as the Spartan onslaught continued and offensive pressure proved too much for the Bears backline. A hard foul in the Mercer 18-yard box set the Spartan sophomore
Basile Marc up to score his second goal of the season coming off a penalty kick. He placed the ball neatly into the left corner of the goal to tie the game at one goal each.
The second half of the SoCon Championship started with a much more aggressive Mercer team. While they applied heavy pressure the Spartan defense, UNCG's offense did not miss a stride from their first half mind-set and put another eight shots to Mercer's two.
The clock continued to tick down with both sides refusing to budge. The clock read 82:47 when the Spartans'
Izaiah Vignali drilled a shot from twenty yards out. His aim on the back post forced the Mercer goalkeeper to make a diving save. The ball bounced up and away from the goal, but found the head of a marked
Ismail El Harchi who dove forward, propelling the ball into the goal to give the Spartans the go-ahead goal with less than ten minutes to play.
As the final whistle blew, the Spartans' bench cleared in celebration as UNCG won 2-1, winning the title of Southern Conference Tournament Champions and a spot in the DI NCAA Tournament.
By the Numbers
- Marc scored his second goal of the season, both goals coming in SoCon tournament play off penalty kicks.
- El Harchi tallied his ninth goal of the season.
- Vignali tallied his first assist of the season.
- The Spartans outshot Mercer 15-4.
- UNCG held the edge with corner kicks, finishing 4-2.
- Mercer's goalkeeper Trevor McMullen had high of eight saves.
- The Spartans' Niclas Wild made two saves.
Records
Mercer: 8-5-6, 2-1-2 SoCon
UNCG: 13-1-4, 4-0-1 SoCon
Up Next
The Spartans will learn its fate in the 2022 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament on Monday, November 14 at 1 p.m. during the NCAA Selection show, streamed on NCAA.com.
2022 SoCon Men's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Kieran Richards, ETSU
Sebastian Reventlow-Mourier, ETSU
Alfredo Diaz-Santillan, Furman
Jake Raine, Furman
Dylan Gaither, Mercer
Ousman Jabang, Mercer
Nick Wanzer, Mercer
Marco Afonso, UNCG
Ismail El Harchi, UNCG
Basile Marc, UNCG
JC Ngando, UNCG
Most Outstanding Player
Ismail El Harchi, UNCG
Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Niclas Wild, UNCG
2022 SoCon Men's Soccer Championship
Friday, Nov. 4
Quarterfinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 1: No. 5 Furman 3, No. 4 Wofford 2 (Greensboro, N.C.)
Match 2: No. 3 Mercer 2, No. 6 VMI 1 (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Sunday, Nov. 6
Semifinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 3: No. 1 UNCG 6, No. 5 Furman 3
Match 4: No. 3 Mercer 1, No. 2 ETSU 0
Saturday, Nov. 12
Final (at highest remaining seed)
Match 5: No. 1 UNCG 2, No. 3 Mercer 1
* All times Eastern unless otherwise noted.
