Spartans on the Road

By carolinianweb on September 26, 2018 • ( 0 )

By Douglas Burns
Staff Writer
(@DougieJournalis)

PC: Chase Cofield

GREENSBORO, N.C – Women’s soccer and volleyball took home two more wins for the UNCG community this weekend, both away from home. The men’s soccer team did not fare as well, losing out by one goal against Appalachian State in Boone.

UNCG Women’s Soccer absolutely hammered Virginia Military Institute by a score of 4-0, leaving no doubt who the superior team is. The women’s volleyball team had a bigger struggle against the Mercer Bears, who had traded close games with the Bears, until UNCG won the final match.

UNCG Women’s Soccer traveled to Lexington, VA to play VMI on the road. The game began for the Spartans and ended for VMI in the 14th minute, when UNCG’s Cienna Rideout scored her first goal of the match. A deep forward pass by Kiwi defender Emily Jensen gave Rideout the space and time that she needed to bury the ball in the bottom left corner of the VMI goal.

The second of the four goals came from a cross by Kaley Tucker, which was well-received by Heida Vidarsdottir, who put it away in the left corner in the 36th minute.

After a brief break from goal-scoring, Rideout made a breakaway run, shooting high into the left corner of the VMI goal, bringing the score to a miserable 3-0 for VMI. Discontent with only having two goals, Rideout went for her hat-trick, and at the 76th minute, beautifully headed the ball in after a scramble in the box. The scoring barrage ended, and the Spartans headed back to Greensboro with a commanding victory. The women’s soccer team’s next game is on Friday at The Citadel. They’ll next be home on Oct. 5, going up against the Furman Paladins.

The men’s team suffered a disappointing loss to the Mountaineers in Boone, but the first half was a close-run affair, just by the numbers. Both App State and UNCG had six shots on goal in the first period, but App State scored in the 48th minute.

The second half brought more fortune for the Mountaineers, with a further six shots on goal, and the Blue and Gold could never get anything going. They fell to Appalachian State, 1-0. After starting the season 2-0, the Spartans have now lost five of their last six matches. UNCG will next play at home on Saturday, Oct. 6 against Belmont.

UNCG Volleyball snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Mercer, losing their first set by a hair’s breadth, scoring 22 points to Mercer’s 25. UNCG then brought it back to win by five points in the second set. Mercer responded in the third game with a decisive 25-13 win.

The Spartans again responded, this time with a 25-20 win in the fourth set. The ultimate fifth set was won by UNCG, 16-14, securing a clutch conference victory for the Blue and Gold and moving to an even 7-7 on the season. After making a trip to Cullowhee on Monday night to take on Western Carolina, the Spartans will head home to face off against Chattanooga on Friday.