College Soccer News Announces National Team of the Week
GREENSBORO, N.C.- Marco Afonso and
Isaac Briner of the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team were named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.
Earlier this week, the Spartans, who were seeded 12
th in the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, tied No. 5 Stanford, 1-1, in California during the third round. UNCG then prevailed in penalty kicks with a 3-1 score to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. This will be the first time in Division I history that the Spartans will be playing in the Elite 8.
Afonso fired a one-timer into the back of the frame from inside the box in regulation to get the Spartans on the board. The goal was set up by a nice and gutsy move down the right flank and pass from
J.C. Ngando. The fifth year from Johannesburg, South Africa scored his eighth tally of the season and his 16
th of his collegiate career.
Briner took over for Spartan goalkeeper
Niclas Wild when the UNCG and Stanford contest went into a penalty kick shootout after the score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and overtime. Briner came up with three crucial stops in the shootout helping UNCG prevail 3-1 to secure a spot in the Elite Eight.
The number 12 seeded Spartans under fourth-year head coach
Chris Rich improve to 13-1-6 and earn the right to host number 13 seeded Indiana at UNCG Soccer Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. with a trip to the College Cup on the line.
Purchase tickets for the Elite 8 game here
