Carolinian

Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: JOHN READ/THE CAROLINIAN Scott Jones looks for an opening at midfield during Saturday night's 1-0 win over High Point. Jones scored the only goal of the contest on Senior Night at UNCG Soccer Stadium.

UNC Greensboro notched two more wins last week, guaranteeing itself a winning season for the 28th consecutive year. Michael Parker, who has never experienced a losing season in 31 years of coaching, led his team to wins over College of Charleston and High Point.

With first place in the conference on the line, UNCG (10-5-1, 4-1-1 SoCon) traveled down to Charleston and defeated the Cougars 2-1 on Michael FitzGerald's golden goal in the second overtime session.

FitzGerald has been spectacular all season for the Spartans. The senior forward from Wilmington now has eight goals on the year, tying him with Randi Patterson for the team lead in that department.

UNCG entered the game with a narrow one-point advantage in the conference standings. However, the Spartans had played two more SoCon games than CofC, so anything less than a victory would have allowed the Cougars several chances to take over the top spot, as the Spartans have only one more SoCon game remaining to the Cougars' three.

With so much on the line, the Spartans needed to step up on the road. Senior All-Americans Patterson and Scott Jones have consistently delivered in the clutch over the course of their careers, but against College of Charleston, the other pair of senior stars carried the torch.

Mike Richardson assisted FitzGerald for the game-winner after he sent a cross to the front of the box from the left side.

The two also hooked up earlier in the contest to account for both of the Spartans' scores.

FitzGerald moved into a tie for the most goals on the squad, but Richardson's pair of assists vaulted him into the overall points lead with 18 (5 g, 8 a), good enough for second-most in the Southern Conference.

Freshman goalkeep Nate Berry continued his superb play, recording 11 saves for the Spartans.

UNCG returned home Saturday and downed the High Point Panthers 1-0 on Senior Night at UNCG Soccer Stadium.

Jones, Patterson, FitzGerald, Richardson, and Matt Mulvena were honored in a brief pre-game ceremony. The match was the final regular season home game for the five players.

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