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Women’s Soccer Travels to No. 7 Wake Forest; Hosts UNC Asheville on Sunday Funday
GAME NOTES
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG women's soccer team will make the short trip to Winston-Salem, N.C. to face No. 7 Wake Forest Friday, August 24 at 7 p.m. at Spry Stadium. The Spartans will return to UNCG Soccer Stadium for their 2012 home opener Sunday against UNC Asheville at 2 p.m.
"We are looking forward to this weekend and excited about the challenge," said head coach Steve Nugent. "It will be nice to get our first home game underway this weekend. We spent a lot of time working on set pieces and sharpening up our overall organization."
UNCG Athletics hosts its third annual Sunday Funday event sponsored by Sterling Cottages at West End against the Bulldogs from noon to 3 p.m., located on the concourse behind the HHP building and next to the UNCG Soccer Stadium. The first 500 fans will receive coupons good for a free Spartan foam helmet redeemable at halftime of the women's soccer match. There will also be a special 50% off merchandise sale during the match.
"We have been working on preparing for each game," said Stephanie Partenheimer. "We are excited to play in front of our home crowd and our freshmen are really looking forward to it."
The Spartans enter the weekend with a 0-1 record after falling in double overtime to SEC foe Georgia last Friday in Athens, Ga. UGA pulled out the victory after nailing a penalty kick in the 104th minute to survive a stellar effort from the Blue and Gold. Freshman goalkeeper Jamie Simmons (Houston, Texas/Clear Brook HS) made 14 saves to secure her first Southern Conference Player of the Week award Tuesday.
This will be the 16th meeting between UNCG and Wake Forest with the Spartans coming away with a 2-1 victory the last time they played in Winston-Salem. UNCG holds a 4-1-1 record against UNC Asheville with the last meeting coming in 1996 - ending in a four overtime 1-1 draw.
No. 7 Wake Forest comes into the match with a 1-0-1 record after defeating Richmond, 4-1, and tying UNC Wilmington, 0-0, in double overtime last weekend. Junior goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe made four saves against the Seahawks to earn the 18th shutout of her career, tying the Wake Forest career record. Bledsoe joins Erin Regan, who kept 18 clean sheets between 1998-02, atop the shutout charts.
Friday's match against the Deacs will be streamed online via the Wake Forest All-Access package and live stats on WakeForestSports.com.
UNC Asheville is coming off two tough 2-1 losses, including one in double overtime to ETSU last Sunday in Asheville, N.C. The Bulldogs' sophomore goalkeeper Heather Muller had 16 saves in the two contests with 11 coming against ETSU. Sophomore forwards Amanda Dailor and Kaitlyn Eckert each added goals in the season-opening weekend for UNC Asheville.
UNCG will stream the match against UNC Asheville via stretch internet starting at 2 p.m.
Be sure to follow all updates about the 2012 UNCG women's soccer team on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@CoachNugent.
- UNCG -
