GREENSBORO, NC – UNCG scored twice in a span of 3:14 in the first half and held off a late surge to defeat Gardner-Webb, 3-2, in men's soccer exhibition action Saturday night at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
The Spartans completed their pre-season 2-0 in preparation for next Saturday night's opener at William & Mary. Gardner-Webb finished the pre-season 0-3.
UNCG missed several outstanding chances early, including a penalty kick chance by Jokull Elisabetarson. However, with 11:43 left before intermission, the Spartans broke through. Michael Bonilla found Tim Masters who made a run down the left sideline. Masters his a cross into middle of the box, which found Corey Maret. The junior from Ocala, FL popped it home from 10 yards out to give UNCG a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans, who were whistled for offsides six times in the first 30 minutes of the match, struck just 3:14 later. Matt Strine hit a shot from the left side of the box that was knocked down by keeper Trent Kozman. However, Masters collected the rebound and knocked it home from six yards out for a 2-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb got on the board early in the second half. Just 2:51 after intermission, Adam Augruso scored off a loose ball in the box that was started by a free kick by Gerard Hefferon.
The Spartans got the lead back to two, however, midway through the second half. Jokull Elisabetarson settled an attempted clear in the midfield. He dumped it out to the right sideline and the foot of Ryan Davis. Davis made a run down the right side and crossed it into the box to freshman Matt Foxx, who poked it home from six yards out for a 3-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs closed out the scoring 1:50 remaining when Vernon Wise scored off a long cross by Eric Asanin-Miroux.
UNCG outshot Gardner-Webb, 14-9. Peyton Ford made three second-half saves in relief of Chad Dickerson, who did not have to record a save for UNCG in the first half. Trent Kozman had four saves in 61 minutes of play for Gardner-Webb. Dane Geraci finished it out and had two saves for the Bulldogs.
AGATE
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Gardner-Webb........ 0..2..-..2
UNCG................ 2..1..-..3
SCORING SUMMARY: UNCG Maret (Masters; Bonilla), 33:17; UNCG Masters (Strine), 36:31; GWU Augruso (unassisted), 47:51; UNCG Foxx (Davis; Elisabetarson) 66:32; GWU Wise (Asanin-Miroux), 88:10. Shots: Gardner-Webb 9, UNCG 14. Saves: Gardner-Webb 5 (Kozman 4; Geraci 1), UNCG 3 (Dickerson 0, Ford 3). Corner kicks: Gardner-Webb 4, UNCG 2. Fouls: Gardner-Webb 16, UNCG 20.
- UNCG -