GREENSBORO, N.C. – The RV UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team (1-0-3) aims to remain undefeated as the Spartans venture out of North Carolina for the first time this season to take on the Dayton Flyers (3-1-0) at Baujan Field on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. 

Head Coach Chris Rich and company head to Ohio on the heels of three consecutive draws, the latest a 2-2 contest against the Davidson Wildcats to begin the side's current three-game road stand. The Flyers, a second straight opponent out of the Atlantic 10, are 3-1-0 on the year. 
 

Game 5: UNC Greensboro (1-0-3, SoCon) vs. Dayton (3-1-0, Atlantic 10)
Date & Time	Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Location	Dayton, Ohio | Baujan Field
Coverage	Live Stats: Live Stats Broadcast: ESPN+
Social Media	Follow the UNC Greensboro men's soccer team on Instagram (@uncgsoccer), Twitter (@UNCGsoccer), and Facebook (UNCGMensSoccer) to keep track of all the action and updates!

 
SERIES HISTORY VS. DAYTON
Saturday will be the fourth meeting all-time between the Spartans and Flyers, UNCG undefeated in the series with a 2-0-1 edge. This is the away leg for Rich's squad after the Blue & Gold hosted Dayton in one of the most thrilling games of the 2025 season last Sept. 6; a 4-3 win for the Spartans. 
 
Returners Steven Hernandez (twice), Sigurd Saeveraas, and Pablo Torre all found the back of the net against the Flyers last season, Hernandez's second tally of the game being a dramatic 89^th-minute winner to break a 3-3 deadlock. 
 
SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton is led by Head Coach Dennis Currier, in his 22^nd year at the helm of the program. An NCAA Tournament squad in 2023 and 2024 thanks to consecutive A-10 crowns, the Flyers are seeking a fourth-straight appearance in the Conference title game after being voted second in the preseason poll. 
 
Six different players have tallied goals for Dayton through four games, led by the pair of Antonio Pinto and Cooper Lijewski with two each; Pinto leads the side with five points. Entering Saturday, the Flyers rank 31^st in Division I in goals with nine and 45^th in scoring offense.
 
Currier's squad also put three players onto the A-10 All-Preseason Team; sophomore defender Mikkel Madsen and senior midfielders Miles Bonham and Braden Seel.
 
SPARTANS IN THE POLLS
Nearing the end of week three, UNCG finds itself ranked 15^th in the TopDrawerSoccer poll, 21^st in College Soccer News and receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches rankings.  
 
INDIVIDUAL FIRSTS AGAINST DAVIDSON
Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Davidson featured the latest series of firsts for a UNCG side that has gotten plenty of early production from new sources. Senior midfielder Caleb Borneo netted his first goal as a Spartan in his first start for the side, while defender Mason Dancy earned his first collegiate assist on the same play. Preseason All-Conference selection Steven Hernandez notched his first assist of the season in the second half against the Wildcats. 

NEW ARRIVALS LEADING THE OFFENSE
This year's crop of transfers has accounted for 13 of UNCG's 21 points through four games, led by reigning Southern Conference (SoCon) Offensive Player of the Week Keaviano Francis. The senior from South Africa leads the Spartans with three goals, having found the back of the net in both the past two games. Junior Lasse Dahl enters Saturday with assists in each of UNCG's past two contests, while Filipe Matos (three points) and Borneo (two points) have also found the back of the net. 

NEWCOMERS, NEW STARTERS STEPPING UP
Along with Francis, Dahl, Borneo, and Matos, the Spartans have also gotten major minutes from transfer midfielders Tiago Campos and Bendix Bennetzen to start the year. Forward Kirky Watson and defender Gavin DeHart have also appeared in multiple contests off the bench. 

At the back, UNCG has benefitted so far from the emergence of several returners from the 2025 squad. Bolstered by Preseason All-SoCon goalkeeper Seth Wilson and center back Mohammed Sumaila, the trio of Dancy, Trym Linberg, and Bautista Schmidt have all been tasked with bigger roles in 2026. 

Linberg (23 appearances), Schmidt (five), and Dancy (four) all saw the field last year, logging a combined total of 923 minutes that was mostly dominated by Linberg (753). So far in 2026, the trio have logged 1,031 minutes through four games and have all registered at least one goal or assist for the Blue & Gold.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK WATCH
UNCG has had a player named as a SoCon Player of the Week in each of the first two weeks of the 2026 season, with Linberg capturing the nod as the Defensive selection on Aug. 24 and Francis taking home the Offensive honor on Aug. 31. 

OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Francis' three goals and six points are both team-highs, followed by Matos at three thanks to one of each. Five Spartans rank tied for third with two points, while both Dancy and Hernandez are on the board after their helpers against the Wildcats on Tuesday. Linberg and Dahl are tied for the most assists, at two. 

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UP NEXT     
The third and final game of UNCG's current road trip will see the Spartans in Columbia, South Carolina, to take on the No. 13 South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday, Sept. 11. Kickoff from Eugene E. Stone III Stadium is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be aired on ESPN+.