Men split at Richmond Tournament

The UNCG Men’s Soccer team (2-2) went 1-1 this weekend at the Richmond Tournament hosted by Elon University.  The Spartans fell 2-1 to Jacksonville (3-1) on Friday night and defeated Richmond 2-0 on Sunday. 

After coming back from their longest road trip in 18 years to Creighton, the Spartans took a smaller trip to Elon University to face the Jacksonville Dolphins.  The last time the two met in 2006, UNCG came out with a win 3-1 in Charlotte.  The Dolphins came out ready to play on Friday night and had a big showing from their goalkeeper, junior Johnny Foley, who had 6 saves on the night to lift his team.  The first goal of the match came from Dolphin’s junior Anthony Forde in the 8th minute, giving them the 1-0 advantage.  Nineteen minutes later in the 27th minute, Jacksonville gained a 2-0 lead off of a free kick about 25 yards out.  The Spartans fought back and although UNCG outshot the Dolphins, 14-9, they would not get on the board until the 73rd minute on a penalty kick.  Sophomore, Eli Garner, took the kick and scored to pull the Spartans back within one.   The Spartans looked for the equalizer, but it did not fall.

On Sunday, at noon, UNCG played their second game of the round robin tournament against the Richmond Spiders (1-2-1).  The Spartans evened back out at .500 as they overcame the Spiders 2-0.  Freshman, Aaron Reifscheider and red shirt freshman, Adam Shore both recorded their first collegiate goals in the match.  Peyton Ford recorded his first shutout on the year and fourth of his career.

Coach Maullin seemed much more pleased with the result of Sunday afternoon’s match. “Obviously we are happier with this outcome,” Coach Justin Maullin told UNCGSpartans.com. “I thought we did a much better job of playing together as a team this afternoon. Our last two games the team has gone away from the team focus we have had some individualism, but today we came together as a team. That was something we talked a lot about at practice yesterday and again before today’s match.”

The Spartans came ready to play on Sunday and jumped out early, gaining the 1-0 lead in the first 6 minutes of play.  To start the competition off, Reifscheider ripped a shot from about 12 yards giving the edge to UNCG.  In the first half, the Spartans controlled much of the run of play and outshot the Spiders 6-1 in the first half alone.  Slowing things down a bit, the game evened out until around the 65th minute, midway through the second half, when red-shirted senior, Matt Strine crossed a ball from midfield.  Shore received the ball, weaved his way through the Richmond defense and took a shot from about 15 yards out that went to the inside of the far post. 

UNCG had three players make the All-Tournament Team as Kris Byrd, Trey Johnson and Matt Strine were named to the 11-man roster.

The UNCG Men’s soccer team will resume action at home in the UNCG Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, September 15at 7 p.m. against William and Mary.