CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's soccer team responded to an early Chattanooga goal and held strong through a back-and-forth second half to earn a 1-1 Southern Conference (SoCon) draw on Friday evening at Finley Stadium.
Chattanooga struck first in the seventh minute when Paige Thomas sent a one-touch to the back of the net, following a cross from EG Dillard at the end line.
The Spartans answered less than six minutes later.
Laney Smith sent in an inswinger from the near corner, and it ricocheted off the post before
Bailey Gourdine finished with the goal at 12:17, leveling the match at 1-1.
UNCG controlled much of the opening half, following the equalizer, outshooting the Mocs, 9-3, with seven of them being on target, while earning five corner kicks. Chattanooga goalkeeper Addie Talor made six first-half saves to keep the match even at the break.
Chattanooga applied pressure in the second half, recording eight shots.
Blythe Clark made four saves for the Spartans, including stops on Emma Reeves in the 70
th minute and Thomas and Dillard in the final four minutes.
The Spartans continued to search for the go-ahead goal down the stretch, earning a corner kick in the 83
rd minute before
Merle Greulich's late shot sailed high. Neither side was able to break through before the final whistle.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Gourdine scored her first goal of the season and fourth of her career.
- Smith recorded her fifth assist of the season.
- Clark made four saves, all in the second half.
- UNCG held advantages in shots (12-11), shots on goal (7-5) and corner kicks (6-4).
- Taylor made six saves for Chattanooga.
- The Spartans attempted nine shots in the opening half, seven of them being on target.
RECORDS
UNCG: 7-5-4, 3-2-3 SoCon
UTC: 8-3-5, 4-2-2 SoCon
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WHAT'S NEXT
UNCG will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to face Samford on Thursday, Oct. 29, in its final regular season road contest of the season. The Spartans and Bulldogs are set to face off at 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT on Shauna Yelton Field.
The Spartans will then host Wofford on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2:00 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina, at UNCG Soccer Stadium in their regular season finale.
