GREENSBORO, N.C. –  In the first meeting ever between the two teams, the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team and Penn State will face off on Saturday night at the UNCG Soccer Stadium with a start time of 7:00 p.m. in non-conference action.   

The Spartans enter the contest 1-4-3 overall, while the Nittany Lions are 4-1-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions are receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches National Poll. Penn State is No. 22 in the latest College Soccer News poll.

Saturday, September 23
Who: vs. Penn State
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Greensboro, N.C. | UNCG  Soccer Stadium
Promotion: The first 100 UNCG students will receive a FREE t-shirt! The first 200 NC Fusion kids will receive a FREE UNCG cowbell courtesy of Allegacy!
Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats

SPARTAN QUICK HITTERS

• UNCG opened the season at home and played to a 1-1 draw to the California Golden Bears, in a game that was played over two days and five hours and 25 minutes due to inclement weather.
• The Spartans faced back-to-back ranked opponents including, then-ranked No. 14 Maryland and No. 13 Louisville, falling 2-0 to both teams.
• In a 1-1 draw against Campbell, Homssa scored his first-collegiate goal, while Colton Sessoms tallied his first assist of the season and third helper of his career.
• Homssa leads the team with four points (1 G, 2 A), while Colton Sessoms is second with three points (1 G, 1 A).
• Ethan Conley registered his second-career goal as the equalizer, while Sessoms scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Charlotte that was complete in the 81st minute due to inclement weather.
• The Spartans most recently played to a 1-1 draw against Coastal Carolina for its first trip out of state since August 27. Basile Marc scored on a penalty kick.  
• UNCG was voted to finish first in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll, while Emmanuel Hagan, Ethan Conley, and Basile Marc earned Preseason All-Conference honors. All three were named to SoCon All-Conference teams.
• Hagan, Conley, and Marc were named captains this season.
• The Spartans feature 15 returners, 10 freshmen, and three transfers.

SCOUTING PENN STATE

• Last season, the Nittany Lions concluded the season 6-6-4 overall and 3-2-3 in conference play.
• Penn State was voted to finish fifth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, while the Maryland Terrapins were voted to take the title.
• Peter Mangione, Femi Awodesu, and Kris Shakes were selected as Big Ten Players to Watch.
• Mangione was also tabbed United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch.
• They have played to 1-1 draws against No. 1 Syracuse and No. 5 Pittsburgh this season.
• Penn State is nationally ranked fourth in save percentage (0.865), 10^th in shutout percentage (0.571), 20^th in team goals against average (0.714), 25^th in goal differential (7) and saves per game (4.57), and 32^nd in won-lost-tied percentage (0.714).
• Mangione, who has three goals this season, is third nationally in game-winning goals (3).
• Liam Butts has three goals and two assists for eight points to lead the team.
• In net, Shakes has started and played in seven games for the Nittany Lions. He has totaled 32 saves and just five goals against for 0.73 goals against average.

The Spartans turn around and host No. 2 West Virginia on Tuesday, September 26 at the UNCG Soccer Stadium with a start time of 7:00 p.m.