UNCG women’s soccer moves into first-place tie in the SoCon

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Jenn Partenheimer’s goal in the 67th minute proved the difference as UNC Greensboro defeated College of Charleston back on Friday, 1-0, to move back into a tie for first place in the Southern Conference standings.

The win moved UNCG to 11-6 overall on the season and 7-2 in the SoCon, putting the Spartans dead even with the Cougars, who fell to 11-5-1 overall and 7-2 in the league. UNCG now controls its own destiny, as it would win at least a share of its fourth straight SoCon regular-season title and lock up the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with wins in its final two games.

This marks the second straight season that Partenheimer notched the game-winner against the Cougars, as she scored the golden goal in last year’s 1-0, overtime win.

This time, she took a pass from Jen Bronson and slotted it into the upper 90 from 22 yards out at the 66:06 mark.

UNCG came blazing out of the gates, earning five corner kicks in the first 12 minutes of the contest.

The Cougars’ defense held firm, however, not allowing the Spartans to get a shot off on any of them. UNCG finished with three shots in the opening stanza, with none of them on frame.

College of Charleston rattled off six shots in the first half, with UNCG keeper Kelsey Kearney saving Annie Pease’s attempt in the 19th minute.

Kearney would go on to make two more saves in the second half, stopping attempts by Pease and Maryam Buazza for her seventh shutout of the season.

The shutout was also the 18th of Kearney’s career, moving her into a tie for fifth place on UNCG’s career list with Laura Mussulman, who had 18 from 1988-91.

Partenheimer’s strike came less than six minutes after she checked into the game for the first time in the second half. The junior from Apex, N.C., had three shots to lead UNCG, while Pease and Buazza shared team-high honors for the Cougars with three each.

Sarah Wiggers took the loss in the net, as she allowed one goal and did not make a save.

College of Charleston held an 11-6 advantage in shots for the game, despite the Spartans taking eight corner kicks to just three for the Cougars.

Now tied atop the league standings, both UNCG and College of Charleston still have The Citadel and Elon left on their respective schedules. The Spartans will take on The Citadel at 1 p.m. Sunday before wrapping up the regular season with a home match against Elon on Oct. 29.

AGATE

UNC Greensboro (11-6-0, 7-2 SoCon) vs. Coll. of Charleston (11-5-1, 7-2 SoCon)

Date: Oct 23, 2009 Attendance: 596

Weather: cloudy, 71 degrees

Goals by period 1 2 Tot

UNC Greensboro 0 1 1

Coll. of Charleston 0 0 0

SCORING SUMMARY:
1 66:06 UNCG Jenn Partenheimer (3) (Jen Bronson)

Shots: UNC Greensboro 6, Coll. of Charleston 11

Saves: UNC Greensboro 3 (Kelsey Kearney 3), Coll. of Charleston 0

Corner kicks: UNC Greensboro 8, Coll. of Charleston 3

Fouls: UNC Greensboro 13, Coll. of Charleston 8