Madison Wyker/The Carolinian

Kelsi Peters and the Women’s soccer team had a succesful first season under new coach Michael Coll

By Daniel Johnson, Staff writer

Published in print Dec 3, 2014.

As the semester concludes within the coming week, we look back at the athletic seasons for the Spartans who played from the dog days of a humid August afternoon to the cool autumn nights of November. Men and women’s golf, soccer, cross country and volleyball all finished up their seasons prior to the end of the semester. Some teams were had incredibly successful years, such as the Volleyball team. Some teams had moderate success, such as the women’s soccer. Others unfortunately had disappointing ends to their season, such as the Men’s soccer team.

Volleyball

In his inaugural season as head coach, Corey Carlin led his Spartan team to their first 20 win season since the 2010 campaign. This included a 11-5 record in the Southern Conference, as well as a 10-4 home record.

The team had three all-conference players in seniors Vicky Harley, Kelsey Sidney, and freshmen Ashley Muench. Muench’s freshmen season also saw her become the first Spartan freshman to win the SoCon Freshman of the Year award since 1998. The Spartan’s volleyball season ended in a semi-finals defeat against the eventual SoCon champions, Samford Bulldogs.

Women’s Soccer

The best term to use to describe the Spartan’s women soccer season would be average. The team finished with an overall 9-8-3 record.  The team was 4-4-1 on the road, and 5-4-1 at home. They ended the season, going into the SoCon Championship, right in the middle of the standings, fifth place out of ten teams. A player on the roster who rose above this averageness was junior forward, Chesney White. Individually, White finished in the top three in goals, shots, and points in total and per game for the SoCon. The team, led by first year coach, Michael Coll, ended the season in the first round of SoCon tournament against East Tennessee State.

Men’s Soccer

Prior to the season, the Spartans men’s soccer team looked like one of the most dangerous team in the SoCon. In the preseason All-Conference team, UNCG had a total of five players combined on the first and second teams (one on the first team, four on the second team). The season looked even brighter when the team decimated Guilford College in the first preseason match of the season, 8-0.

However, the season went from bad, to worst, to completely terrible. It took until October for the Spartans to achieve victory. By the end of the year, the team had won only one game on the road, and finished with a total record of 6-12-2.

With all their talent, and hosting the SoCon Men’s Soccer tournament, the Spartans were able to defeat East Tennessee State in the first round. In the semi-finals, against #1 seed Mercer, the Spartans ended their unfulfilling season with a double overtime 1-0 loss.

Women’s Golf

With the season on hiatus until February’s Lady Bulldog Invitational, so far for the season, the Spartans ladies of golf have had a sub par season. Out of their four tournaments entered, the Spartans have finished next two last twice, and in last place the other time. Their best score was finishing tenth out of 16 schools.

Men’s Golf

Prior to the season, the Men’s Golf team was ranked 41 nationally and has worked hard to keep that ranking. In their four tournaments , UNCG has finished no lower than ninth place. This includes a first place finish in the Autotrader.com Collegiate Classic, and tied for second in the Tarheel Intercollegiate. Today, the Spartan Golf team still is ranked and has been the most successful team for the fall.

Cross Country

Both the men and women’s cross-country teams have had strong seasons. They began the year getting completely dominated by Elon College in a race against the Spartans. After that, the two teams went on to win 4th and 5th place in the next two meets. UNCG continued to succeed this semester in meets until the end of the season in November . 

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Categories: daniel johnson, Sports