Spartans beat 49ers

The UNCG Women’s soccer team returned to action Friday night with a 2-1 victory over the Charlotte 49ers at UNCG Soccer Stadium. The Spartans were coming into the game looking to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Cal State Fullerton last Sunday, their first loss of the young season. The 49ers came into the game with a 3-1-0 record, and were coming off a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh.

The Spartans were able to withstand early pressure by the 49ers and with about ten minutes gone in the first half, Lauren Hein rifled a shot past 49ers keeper Alex Kubrick to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. Stine Schoening centered the ball from the left corner and Jaimey Etten made a great play to set up Hein for the goal. Etten faked a shot at the top of the box and flicked the ball with the right heel of her foot to Hein, who shot it passed a surprised Kubrick for the goal. Hein’s goal was her second of the season. Schoening and Etten both got assists on the goal.

The Spartans held their 1-0 lead until 11:44 remaining in the first half, when senior Whitney Weinraub came in alone on Spartans keeper Kelsey Kearney and flicked the ball over Kearney’s head to tie the game. The goal was Weinraub’s second of the year. Sam Huecker got the only assist on the goal.

Weinraub’s goal seemed to spark the 49ers, as they ended the half strong, getting the last five shots of the half. However, the score was still tied at one at the half. The 49ers held a 6-3 edge in shots, with Kelsey Kearney making three saves for the Spartans. Weinraub led the 49ers in shots with two. Cat Barnekow, Jaimey Etten, and the goal scorer Lauren Hein had the shots for the Spartans.

The 49ers picked up the second half were they left off in the first half, as they controlled the pace of the game for the first five minutes of the half. Spartans keeper Kelsey Kearney stood strong though, as she made a couple of big saves to keep the game tied. With 34:12 remaining, the Spartans struck to take back the lead. Jessi Gulledge picked up a short rebound after Cat Barnekow hit the post and Gulledge put it into a wide open net for the first goal of her college career. Barnekow got the only assist on the goal.

Just like the 49ers’ goal sparked them at the time, Gulledge’s goal seemed to get the Spartans going as well, as the 49ers spent much of the second half in their own zone having to play defense against the Spartans. When they did get possession of ball, they were quickly thwarted by the Spartans defense.

The 49ers had a couple of great opportunities to tie the game late, as they were awarded two corner kicks in the last ten minutes of regulation. Each time, though, Charlotte’s shots sailed wide of the goal and the score remained 2-1 in favor of the Spartans. That score would be the final score, as the Spartans held on to pick up their fourth win of season, making their record now 4-1-1.

Despite playing a somewhat sloppy game at times, Spartans coach Eddie Radwanski praised his team’s performance.

“The effort was tremendous,” said Radwanski. “When we took the lead, we were kind of in control of the game, and then we made a mistake and they were able to even it up. But the sign of a good team is that they were able to come back, get another goal, and finish the game off.”

The Spartans will now have their longest break in between games of the season, as they have nine days off before they return to action against Old Dominion. When asked about the long break and how it will affect his team, coach Radwanski was positive it could only help his team.

“For me personally, I’m going to look at it as a positive. I honestly think they could use the break. They’ve been physically challenged and I think the rest and recovery will do our team good.”