UNCG Women’s Soccer’s Oka Nets First Career Goal in 1-1 Draw to ETSU
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s soccer team played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon with The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe ETSU at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
This was the first result for the Spartans against the Bucs since Oct. 27, 2019, when UNCG defeated ETSU 2-0 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first minute of the game, the Spartans acted early on a well-struck ball from Mel Herrera at the top of the 18-yard box that ETSU’s goalkeeper handled for the first shot on goal. The Bucs later responded at the 5:35 mark with a shot that was blocked by the Spartans’ wall. Play continued and at 34:43, ETSU took a 1-0 lead. The Bucs passed the ball down the right channel and Kyra Ranvek took off and slipped the ball past UNCG’s Emma Malone for the 1-0 advantage. ETSU went into the break with an 8-5 shot advantage.
UNCG dominated the second half registering eight shots to ETSU’s two. At 49:22, the Spartans’ Bailey Gourdine cut in front of a defender to find herself at the top of the box, where she ripped a shot that hit the crossbar for one of UNCG’s best chances. With just seven seconds left in the game, UNCG’s Azumi Oka tossed in one final throw-in to the Spartan’s goalkeeper who made her way across midfield to assist in the play. Malone played the ball back to Oka who whipped a dangerous ball into the box that found the back of the net for a 1-1 draw.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Spartans outshot the Bucs, 13-10.
Oka scored her first-collegiate goal.
Malone registered her first-collegiate assist.
ETSU had six corner kicks to UNCG’s four.
There were 28 total fouls in the game.
RECORDS
UNCG: 2-5-3, 1-0-1 SoCon
ETSU: 2-4-2, 1-0-1 SoCon
PURCHASE UNCG GEAR
Click here for your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone!
UP NEXT
The Spartans will hit the road for two-straight games, starting it off with Chattanooga on Sunday, Sept. 29 with a 1:00 p.m. start time at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro