Who: vs. Furman When: Saturday, October 1 Where: Greensboro, N.C. | UNCG Soccer Stadium Time: 7:00 p.m. Tickets: FREE ADMISSION Live Stats | ESPN+

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Following its third draw of the season, this time against its first top-25 team of the season in No. 15 Louisville, the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team will host its Southern Conference (SoCon) opener on Saturday, October 1.
 
The Spartans will host Furman University at UNCG Soccer Stadium at 7:00 p.m.
 
UNCG is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches national poll, No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches South Region, No. 16 in the TopDrawerSoccer poll, and No. 20 in the College Soccer News poll.
 
The Spartans are 5-1-3, which is the best start under fourth-year Head Coach Chris Rich. UNCG's 5-0-2 was the best start in program history since 2004 when the Spartans went 5-0-1 to begin the season and 19-3-1 overall.
 
CLIMBING HIGH

• UNCG earned its first United Soccer Coaches national ranking after starting the season 4-0.
• The squad is also No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches South Regional poll.
• The Spartans are the highest non-ACC school ranked in the region.
• Most recently, UNCG earned a No. 20 ranking from College Soccer News and earned a No. 16 ranking from TopDrawerSoccer. 

AMONG THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

• 8^th in goal differential (15)
• 12^th in total goals (22)
• 13^th in total points (64)
• 16^th in scoring offense (2.44)
• 18^th in corner kicks per game (7.00)
• 19^th in total assists (20)
• 20^th in points per game (7.11)
• 21^st in shots on goal per game (7.00)
• 23^rd in assists per game (2.22)

SPARTANS AMONG THE NATION

• Niclas Wild – 7^th in goalie minutes played (810:00), 36^th in shutouts (3), 37^th in goals against average (0.778)
• J.C. Ngando – 15^th in total assists (5), 36^th in assists per game (0.56)

AWARDS

• UNCG has swept three-straight SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors.
  • Steven Hernandez (Sept. 6)
  • Marco Afonso (Sept. 13)
  • JC Ngando (Sept. 20)
• 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 had its third draw of the season in a 1-1 tie to No. 15 Louisville.
• Steven Hernandez scored his fourth goal of the season.
• Ismail El Harchi tallied his second assist of the season.
• The Cardinals outshot the Spartans 9-8.
• UNCG had nine corner kicks to Louisville's five.

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 FURMAN

• Furman was voted to tie for second in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Jake Raine and Josh Hosie were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Alfredo Diaz-Santillan was most recently named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week for netting a hat trick against Winthrop.
• The Paladins earned a No. 10 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches South Region Poll on September 21.
• Furman is averaging 1.38 goals per game.
• Diaz-Santillan is leading the Paladins with four of their 11 goals this season.
• Dylan Lane has registered a team-best three assists.
• In net, Ben Roberts has started and played in seven games, giving up four goals for 0.58 goals against average.
• Among the nation, the Paladins are ranked 1^st in penalty kicks (1.000), 15^th in shot accuracy (0.519), 18^th in save percentage (0.816), and 20^th in shutout percentage (0.500). 

ALL-TIME HISTORY

• UNCG leads the all-time series 21-19-4
• The Spartans last won on October 9, 2021 in Greenville, S.C., 3-0.