COLLEGE PARK, MD. – The No. 10 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team, in its first ranked game of the season, fell to No. 14 Maryland, 2-0, on Sunday night in non-conference action at Ludwig Field.
The Spartans are ranked No. 7 in the College Soccer News Preseason Poll, No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, and No. 10 in the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Poll.
The Terps are ranked No. 11 in the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Poll, No. 14 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, and No. 17 in the College Soccer News Preseason Poll.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a very action packed first half, Maryland outshot UNCG 6-4, as both goalkeepers had three saves each. Possession went from end to end during the entire half, as neither team found the back of the net.
The Spartans'
Yoshiya Okawa had the first shot on goal of the match that was saved by the Terps' Mikah Seger at 4:58. Maryland had its own shot on goal from inside the 18-yard box four minutes later at 8:13.
Most of the second half was controlled by Maryland. At 65 minutes, the Terps' Kimani Stewart-Baynes found Joe Suchecki at the top of the 18-yard box, striking the ball with his left foot to give Maryland a 1-0 advantage.
Eleven minutes later, Stewart-Baynes put back a rebound that was initially saved by the outstretched Spartan goalkeeper,
Mathias Balle, giving Maryland a 2-0 lead. The Terps held on for the shutout, as the Spartans had one final shot on goal in the 89th minute by
Arnaud Tattevin.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Maryland outshot UNCG 11-9.
- The Terps had 10 corner kicks to the Spartans' three.
- There were 25 total fouls in the game.
- Balle tallied five saves in his second-collegiate start.
RECORDS
UNCG (0-1-1)
Maryland (1-1)
UP NEXT
UNCG returns home to the UNCG Soccer Stadium for a game on Friday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. against ACC foe Louisville, who is currently receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll.
This game will be part of UNCG's Blue & Gold Fridays and the first 100 UNCG students will receive a FREE T-shirt!
