GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro scored the game's first two goals in the opening five minutes but couldn't hold on as the Spartans fell 3-2 to the Pennsylvania Quakers in women's soccer action at UNCG Soccer Stadium on Friday night.
UNCG (1-7-0) grabbed the early 1-0 lead in the 4th minute from senior defender Shannon Donovan. After a Penn foul, Donovan connected on the free kick from 20 yards out when she sent the ball to the top right corner of the goal for her first tally of the season.
Less than a minute later, senior Jessie Jay scored her first goal of the season on a quick kick in front of the goal. Karla Davis crossed the ball to Deven Beachum who sent the fast pass to Jay who drove the ball past Quaker keeper Cailly Carroll to give the Spartans the 2-0 lead.
However, the energy shifted when Penn (3-0-1) scored its first goal of the night at the 22:04 mark. Megan Boys fed the ball to Mara Fintzi who passed the ball to Rachel Fletcher in the six-yard box. Fletcher hit it past UNCG keeper Katherine Ryan to put the Quakers on the board. The Spartans were on the defensive for the remainder of the first half but went into the break with the 2-1 advantage.
Penn tied the game up in the 52nd minute off a Tracy Bienenfeld header. A Quaker corner kick was bounced around by several players until Jessica Fuccello headed the ball up to Bienenfeld for the equalizer.
The Quakers would get the game winner off a corner kick in the 72nd minute. Bienenfeld sent the kick into the box where Fuccello headed the ball in for the 3-2 lead.
“I’m a little disappointed. We were on top of the game at the beginning,” head coach Eddie Radwanski said. “I felt we could have done a bit better defensively on the goals. Give credit to Penn for coming back. Now we’ll look ahead to Sunday’s game.”
UNCG concludes its weekend homestand against Indiana on Sunday afternoon. Game time set for 1 pm.
AGATE
Goals by
period
1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Pennsylvania........ 1 2
- 3
UNC Greensboro...... 2 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY: UNCG Donovan (1) (unassisted), 3:38; UNCG Jay (1) (Davis; Beachum), 4:22; PENN Fletcher (2) (Boys; Fintzi), 22:04; PENN Bienenfeld (2) (Fuccello), 51:22; PENN Fuccello (Bienenfeld), 71:16. Shots: Pennsylvania 13, UNC Greensboro 11. Saves: Pennsylvania 3 (Carroll 3), UNC Greensboro 6 (Ryan 6). Corner Kicks: Pennsylvania 6, UNC Greensboro 2. Fouls: Pennsylvania 14, UNC Greensboro 8.
- UNCG -