Carolinian

Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: JOHN READ/THE CAROLINIAN Michael FitzGerald takes a celebratory headfirst dive after a score.

After enduring a three game winless streak in mid-September, the UNC Greensboro men's team has since won three straight matches and appears to be molding into the same dominant squad that appeared in the Sweet 16 the last two seasons.

The Spartans (7-4-1, 2-0-1 SoCon) edged the Davidson Wildcats on the road for a 3-2 OT win last Tuesday. They then went on to defeat archrival Elon, 3-1, in Saturday night's Homecoming game. With the victory, UNCG now has sole possession of first place in the SoCon.

Head coach Michael Parker downplayed the win, but believes that his men are starting to turn the corner. "All it's done for us is put us in a good position to defend our regular season (Southern Conference) title. It's big because it's Homecoming, and it was a good Southern Conference win for us and now we move on."

An astounding 2,545 fans filled the seats to support their Spartans against the conference leading Phoenix, who came into the game with a perfect 2-0 record in the SoCon. The attendance mark was the seventh highest in UNCG Soccer Stadium's 15-year existence, and the most since 2,608 watched the Spartans defeat North Carolina in 2004.

Elon featured two prolific scorers in reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year Kiki Willis (4 g, 2 a) and Nick Aparicio (3 g, 5 a). The Spartans were dealt an unexpected blow however when Matt Bengston netted his first goal of the season only six and a half minutes into play.

Brett Paschall crossed a ball in from the left side and Bengston slid toward the goal feet first and buried the shot past Spartan keeper Nate Berry to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead.

UNCG had several chances to tie the score, but could never quite capitalize down in the box. With just under five minutes in the opening half, the Spartans finally broke through. Randi Patterson did his best Superman impersonation on the goal, soaring through the air at the near post to head in Mike Richardson's cross from the left side.

"I knew Mike was going to cross it near-post and I was just trying to get ready for a header," explained Patterson. "I threw my body out there and was able to get it."

Richardson's assist was his sixth of the year, adding to his league-leading total.

Continued...

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