Haggerty’s Hat Trick Powers No. 3 UNCG over No. 6 VMI, 4-1
GREENSBORO, N.C. – A hat trick for Sho Haggerty powered the No. 3-seeded UNC Greensboro (UNCG) Spartans (6-2-9) to a 4-1 win over No. 6 VMI (6-13-1) in the Quarterfinals of The Southern Conference (SoCon) Tournament, the Blue & Gold scoring the first four goals of the evening at UNCG Soccer Stadium on Thursday.
Haggerty erupted for seven points, recording multiple firsts to power the Spartans into the next round, while four total UNCG players recorded at least an assist in the win over the Keydets.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Steven Hernandez and Lasse Dahl both came close for the home side early, both forcing diving stops in the 19th and 24th minutes of action, respectively. VMI was able to hold the Spartans at bay for the following 15 minutes, but the next UNCG opportunity proved to be the breakthrough.
Breaking down the right side after being played forward by Trym Linberg, a low cross from Haggerty found an arriving Caleb Borneo just inside the six-yard box. Battling through contact, Borneo was able to slot the ball home in the 42nd minute to break the ice and put UNCG up 1-0 entering the half.
The Spartans wasted no time doubling the advantage out of the break. Breaking into the box, Haggerty stormed past his defender to arrive first to a low cross from Filipe Matos on the left wing and strike home in the 47th minute. It was the first collegiate goal for the junior, following his first assist as a Spartan earlier.
The pair were at it again in the 57th minute, converting a similar play. Haggerty slipped through the Keydet defense, finding himself alone in front of goal and able to nod home a pinpoint aerial cross from Matos to make it 3-0.
Two goals turned into a first career hat-trick for Haggerty in the 63rd minute, the junior able to somehow control a loose cross and spin his way past a defender before volleying home UNCG’s fourth goal of the evening. Dahl and KeavianoFrancis both earned credit for the assist.
The Keydets would claw a goal back in the 66th minute, but a red card just 44 seconds after the strike and a stingy Spartan defense allowed the home side to put the game to bed over the final 24 minutes of action.
UNCG outshot VMI 16-3, putting eight attempts on goal to just one for the Keydets.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Haggerty’s first collegiate goal gave way to a first collegiate hat trick in just 16 minutes of game time, from the 47thminute to the 63rd. His previous season-high in points had been two entering the night.
A seven-point night from the junior marks the first such game for a Spartan since 2022, when alumni Marco Afonso netted three goals with an assist in a 6-3 win over Furman in the SoCon Tournament Semifinals.
Coincidentally, Haggerty is the first Spartan to score a hat trick since another alumni, Arnaud Tattevin, did so against No. 6 VMI in last season’s SoCon Quarterfinals.
Matos’ two assists on the night make him the third Spartan to do so in a game this season after Linberg and Dahl.
Dahl’s helper gives him a team-high six for the year, while Matos and Linberg currently have five.
Borneo’s goal takes him to six on the year, one behind Francis for the team lead.
Tonight was the third time this season that UNCG allowed just one shot on goal, after USF (Sept. 15) and Liberty (Sept. 19). Three shots allowed ties the Liberty game as the fewest overall shots allowed this season as well.
UP NEXT
UNCG’s hunt for the SoCon Tournament title continues in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where the Spartans will take on No. 2 seed Wofford on Sunday. Kickoff from Snyder Field is set for 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
Davis Fields
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro