CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team defeated No. 2 seed Virginia, 4–3 on penalties, after a 2–2 draw at the end of double overtime at Klöckner Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 20. This marks the highest-ranked win in program history in the NCAA tournament. This is the highest ranked win in the NCAA Tournament in DI history.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 
The Spartans were put on the back foot early as the Cavaliers fired a shot on goal in the opening two minutes of action. However, goalkeeper Seth Wilson was up to the task,making the diving save and stopping the opening attack from Virginia. In the 10thminute, Daniel Longo received a pass in the midfield and launched a ball downfield to a streaking Issah Haruna. The midfielder corralled the long pass and danced past two defenders in the 18-yard box, slotting a shot past the goalkeeper to put UNCG up 1-0.  In the 16th minute, Virginia tied the game after a rebounded shot off Wilson to tie up the game at 1-1. After the equalizer, both teams traded shots with each other with neither gaining an advantage. In the 39th minute, a UNCG counterattack found momentum as Haruna drove down the pitch. The Bolgatanga, Ghana, native took an opportunistic shot from outside the box that was blocked by teammate Pablo Torre. Torre controlled the ball and rifled a shot upper 90 for the goal to put UNCG up 2-1 before halftime. Virginia stormed back and tried to tie the match but a crucial save by Wilson gave the Spartans the 2-1 edge as they entered halftime.  

In the second half, the Cavaliers continued their offensive pressure with five shots in the first 20 minutes of action. In the 79th minute, UVA drew a foul in the penalty area which resulted in a penalty kick. The Cavaliers converted on the opportunity to even up the match at two apiece with 11 minutes left. Virginia tried to ride that momentum forthe game winning goal but the Spartan defense held firm, weathering four shots in the final five minutes of play to enter overtime tied at 2-2.  

In overtime, both teams went back and forth as Virginia searched for the winning goal,but the UNCG defense kept its structure and endured four shots in both overtime periods. Wilson stopped two shots, and the Spartans added two team saves, sending them to a penalty shootout for the second game in a row. 

Arnaud Tattevin stepped up to the spot first and converted during the high-pressure moment. Virginia missed its first opportunity, and the Spartans maintained the advantage through three rounds with a 3-2 lead. Longo failed to convert his opportunity as the Cavaliers tied up the shootout at 3-3. Kimito Fritz again put UNCG up with his penalty and took the 4-3 advantage. Virginia skied its final kick at the end of the match to give UNCG the win 4-3 in penalties.  

 
BY THE NUMBERS 

• Longo now has six assists on the year and third in postseason play.  

• Issah Haruna now has two goals and five assists on the year.  

• Wilson matched his career-high in saves with 10 tonight. 

• The last time UNCG defeated a top-10 seed in postseason play was in 2022 when the Spartans drew against No. 5 Stanford but advanced with a 3-1 result in penalty kicks. Before that, the Spartans won 2-1 against No. 6 West Virginia in 2006.  

• This is the Spartans fifth time DI history that they made the sweet sixteen in program history. 

• Under Head Coach Chris Rich, the Spartans are now 3-3-5 against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponents. 

RECORDS 
UNCG: 12-4-6 (3-2 SoCon) 
UVA: 12-2-5 (5-0-3 ACC) 

UP NEXT 
The Spartans will take a week off before traveling back to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take on No. 15 North Carolina State on Nov. 30 at 6pm.