Who: at VCU When: Saturday, September 10 Where: Richmond, Va. | Sports Backers Stadium Time: 7:00 p.m. Live Stats | ESPN+

GREENSBORO, N.C. – With a 4-0 start, the No. 19 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team hits the road for its first contest away from Greensboro, competing against VCU tomorrow, Saturday, September 10.
 
The two teams will face off with a 7 p.m. start at Sports Backers Stadium.
 
This is the best start for the program under Head Coach Chris Rich. It is also the best start since 2004, when the Spartans went 19-3-1.
 
CLIMBING HIGH

• UNCG earned its first United Soccer Coaches national ranking after starting the season 4-0. The Spartans are 19th in the nation, matching its highest ranking from last season.
• The squad also climbed to No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches South Regional poll.
• The Spartans are the highest non-ACC school ranked in the region.
• Last week, the Spartans received a No. 22 ranking from College Soccer News.  

RELEASE
 
AMONG THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

• 1st in assists per game (4.25)
• 1st in goal differential (14)
• 1st in total assists (17)
• 1st in total goals (17)
• 1st in total points (51)
• 1st in won-lost-tied percentage (1.000)
• 2nd in points per game (12.75)
• 2nd in scoring offense (4.25)
• 10th in shots on goal per game (9.00)
• 21st in shots per game (17.00)
• 24th in shot accuracy (0.529)

LAST TIME OUT

• UNCG defeated Triad foe High Point, 5-1, in Greensboro on Tuesday.
• Five Spartans had a hand in the win, including Marco Milanese, Maycol Reyes, Colton Sessoms, Marco Afonso, and Maddox Mallery.
• Junior Niclas Wild made one save in the win.
• The Spartans outshot High Point 20-5 and had 11 corners to the Panthers three.

HAT TRICK = AWARDS

• Freshman Steven Hernandez scores his-first collegiate goal and first-collegiate hat trick in a 5-1 victory over Coastal Carolina on Friday, September 2 at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
• He is the first Spartan to score a hat trick since Theo Collomb's three goals against VMI on September 25, 2021 at home.
• Hernandez is the third Spartan under Head Coach Chris Rich to record a hat trick (Hernandez, Collomb, and Albert Pedra in a 3-1 win over ODU on November 2, 2019).
• Hernandez was named Southern Conference (SoCon) Offensive Player of the Week and was selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.

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 VCU

• VCU is entering the game 0-3-0, after falling to New Hampshire 1-0 in Durham, New Hampshire.
• The Rams have also lost to No. 14 Marshall (5-0) and No. 18 Akron (3-1).
• Jared Valdes scored the lone goal for VCU against Akron, while Camilo Comi had the assist.
• John Ermini and Cory Taylor have each had time in the net. Ermini has given up two goals, while Taylor has allowed seven goals.
• The Rams were picked to finish third in the Atlantic-10 Preseason Poll.
• VCU lost 11 players from last season, but reloaded with a 2022 recruiting class that was ranked No. 24 in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.
• The Rams returned midfielder Damian Gallegos who was an A-10 All-Rookie Team selection last year after tallying four goals and four assists.

LAST TIME VS. VCU

• The Rams defeated the Spartans 3-1 in Richmond, Va. on September 2, 2006.

ALL-TIME HISTORY

• UNCG is 3-2-0 against VCU.