UNCG Men’s Soccer Ends Regular Season with Fifth Clean Sheet in 0-0 Draw with ETSU
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s soccer team (5-2-9, 2-0-4 SoCon) ended the regular season with a 0-0 draw against the ETSU Buccaneers (7-6-5, 2-0-4) at UNCG Soccer Stadium on Saturday night, notching its fifth clean sheet of the season but unable to find a decisive finish at the other end.
Head Coach Chris Rich’s squad tallied 21 shots, the second consecutive game for the Spartans with 20 or more, but were only able to put one on target against an ETSU team that entered the night having not conceded a goal since Oct. 6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Steven Hernandez was a thorn in ETSU’s side early, sending two low drives whizzing past the far post on a pair of breakaways before slicing a third opportunity to the right in the first 20 minutes. Pablo Torre (three times), Trym Linberg, and Keaviano Francis all had attempts blocked or sent wide as well within the opening half hour.
Mathis Robinand managed to connect on a cross in the 38th minute and direct it goalward, but Buccaneers keeper Noé Delmotte was on hand to make the stop. It was the only attempt on goal of the first half, UNCG’s defense keeping ETSU at bay with just three attempts allowed at the other end.
Bendix Bennetzen and Linberg had chances before the hour mark, but the visiting side continued to not break under pressure. A sequence just past the 70-minute mark saw Lasse Dahl, Francis, and Mohammed Sumaila all see shots blocked or deflected but the ETSU defense.
Seth Wilson was finally called into action in the 73rd minute, UNCG’s goalkeeper on hand to make an immense reflex save on an ETSU strike that bounced off the pitch from close range. He added a second stop in the 79th minute, calmly corralling a long-range effort. Neither side was able to test the keeper the rest of the way, the points being shared at the end of 90 minutes.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Shots finished 21-8 in favor of UNCG, though the Buccaneers put two chances on goal to one for the Blue & Gold.
Corners would end 8-6 in favor of UNCG.
Six yellow cards were shown in a match that saw 23 total fouls, 13 for ETSU and 10 for the Spartans. Four Buccaneers drew cards on Saturday night.
Saturday was the fourth game this season where UNCG has limited an opponent to just two shots on goal and sixth with two or fewer.
A fifth clean sheet for UNCG on the season after tonight gives the Spartans a third consecutive season with five or more.
UP NEXT
UNCG awaits the final seeding for the SoCon Tournament, slated to begin next week with the No. 6/No. 7 seeds squaring off on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Davis Fields
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro