Box Score Game Stats
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The men’s soccer team battled back from a two goal disadvantage to UNC Greensboro late in the first half. Nick Orton scored a goal before half was called to start the comeback, then set up the goal in the second half to tie the game at 2-2. With only four minutes left in the second half, Greensboro’s Brian Graham secured the win with two back-to-back goals, giving the Spartan a hat-trick and allowing the Spartans to take home a 4-2 win. The loss gives the Terriers a 1-9-2 regular season record. Wofford is looking for their first win in the conference with a 0-5 record. UNC Greensboro improves to 6-5-3, with a 2-1-2 standing in the Southern Conference.
Coach Polson started the match with a different look to his lineup Tuesday night, putting personnel in different places to account for hurt players and also to mix things up. Freshman goalkeeper, Ben Limbaugh made the start in the net. It was the first start as a Terrier in the goalkeeper position. Ryan Hurst and Bryan Eddy started as marking backs in the defense, replacing the normal starters Taylor Grim and Randy McLeod, who just recently were given the nod after being on the injured reserve. Paulo Bonfim, who normally plays center midfielder, started at the center back position.
Neither team was able to take an offensive advantage in the early minutes of the match, with the first shot being taken 11 minutes after the clocked started rolling. Kentrel Owens accounted for the first opportunity, shooting a low driven ball to the right corner, but it was saved by Greensboro’s Peyton Ford.
Ben Limbaugh was forced to stretch for a couple saves in the in the middle of the first 45 to keep the Spartans off the board. Greensboro’s Brian Graham pushed a shot to the left side of the goal, but Limbaugh was able to use the full length of his body to make the save.
Greensboro pulled together a string of shots with nearly twenty minutes left, having their best chance coming in the 21st minutes, forcing Limbaugh to make a fingertip save that was just barely pushed over the crossbar.
Greensboro’s Graham took advantage of one opportunity in the 28th minute, blasting a shot in from almost 30 yards out in the center of the field. The shot was aimed toward the right upper ninety and was pushed just out of reach of Limbaugh’s fingers. The goal gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Greensboro pressed their momentum forward and took a two goal advantage. UNCG’s Adam Shore one-timed a shot in the upper right corner after being set up from assists by Graham and Kris Byrd.
Wofford stole back the match’s energy before half time was called with a score from Nick Orton in the 38th minute. Billy “The Bionic Arm” Padula, cannoned a throw-in to middle of the box. Bryan Eddy skimmed the ball off his head to the extended foot of Nick Orton. Orton streamed the ball into the back of the net, giving Orton the first goal of his Terrier career. Orton scored the goal after just coming into the match, garnering some of his first match experience.
The score at halftime was 2-1, UNC Greensboro.
Wofford kept pressuring the Spartan net after taking the field for the second half. Randy McLeod lifted a ball into the box, giving Alex Hutchins a beautiful header toward the goal, but the header was just high of the crossbar.
Andrew Eppelsheimer had a close threatening shot with 13 minutes left, taking a shot from about ten yards outside the top of the box. The attempt forced UNCG’s Ford to scramble right to keep the ball out of the net.
The Terrier attack paid off in the 78th minute, with a brilliant set up for the equalizing goal. Kenny Owens laid a ball off to Nick Orton near the right side of the 18’. Orton took a touch farther inside the box before he lined up for a shot. The shot fired toward the left side-netting, but Ford nudged the ball enough to make it trickle toward the left post. Logan Threadgill sprinted in from the left side to finish the ball near the goal-line. The score put the teams even at 2-2.
Both teams battled for possession in the final minutes, looking to take the lead. Greensboro’s Graham ruined the Wofford comeback in the final four minutes with a score to go up 3-2. A minute later Graham grabbed another one, finalizing the win and giving the Spartan a hat-trick. The final score at the end of the game was 4-2, Greensboro.
Nick Orton had an impressive game off the bench, scoring one and having an assist, giving the Canadian native three total points. Orton commented on the match afterwards, saying, “We played hard to get the two goals back. It was unfortunate to give up the two in the end… It was exciting to tie up the game, but the loss in the end was extremely deflating.”
The Terriers will continue conference play with a match at home against Georgia Southern, October 23rd. The game is set to start at 6:00 pm.
