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Spartans host Davidson in key SoCon match
GREENSBORO, N.C.—UNCG men's soccer hopes to snap a two-match losing streak and gain some traction in the Southern Conference race when the Spartans host Davidson, 7 p.m., Wednesday at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
The Spartans (4-6-0 overall, 1-1-0 SoCon) lost 1-0 at Appalachian State last Saturday and enter Wednesday's match tied with Davidson (5-5-1, 1-1-0) for fifth place. The Wildcats defeated Elon 3-2 in overtime last Saturday.
Since scoring six goals in consecutive wins over Gardner-Webb (4-0) and Furman (2-0), the Spartans have struggled on the offensive end, scoring just once in their last two matches. Davidson has won just twice in its last six matches after starting the season 3-1-1.
Brian Mcgue and Max Riehemann lead the Wildcats in scoring with three goals apiece. Goalkeeper Chip Sanders owns a 1.24 goals-against average with five shutouts.
Junior Hakan Ilhan leads the Spartans in goals (5), assists (3) and points (13), while junior goalkeeper Peyton Ford ranks third in the SoCon with a 0.98 goals-against average.
Spartan Storylines
• Head coach Justin Maullin is 16-12-4 (.563) in his second season with the Spartans, including 5-2-2 (.667) in SoCon games
• Tonight's match is the 25th meeting in the series between the Spartans and the Wildcats, with UNCG holding a 16-7-1 advantage in the series. UNCG hasn't lost at home to Davidson since 2001.
• The Spartans are 4-2-0 at home this season, with both losses coming in the final minute of the second overtime period
• Junior goalkeeper Peyton Ford earned his 11th career shutout in UNCG's 2-0 win over No. 23 Furman on Oct. 1, moving him into sole possession of third in the UNCG record books. Current assistant coach Jay Benfield (2001-5) is next on the list with 14.
• Ford collected a season-high nine saves in last Wednesday's loss to High Point
• Oddur Gudmundsson scored his second goal of the season – and his first since UNCG's 3-2 win over then-No. 12 Duke on Aug. 26 – in last Wednesday's loss
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