UNCG women lose to Stanford

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the third time in as many games, UNC Greensboro’s women’s soccer team played a 1-0 contest with a ranked opponent, but the Spartans came out on the wrong end of this one, falling to No. 4/2 Stanford at the UNCG Spartan Classic on Friday.

Virginia Tech beat VCU 4-3 in overtime in the first game of the Classic.

After beating No. 11 Duke and falling to No. 1 North Carolina at the Carolina Nike Classic last weekend, the Spartans (1-3) gave another top-flight opponent fits Friday night, holding the Cardinal – ranked No. 4 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and No. 2 by Soccer America – off the board until the 52nd minute.

But with 51:35 gone in the game, sophomore Lindsay Taylor pounced on a loose ball inside the 6-yard box and pounded it home for the only goal Stanford (4-0) would need. Mariah Noguiera picked up the assist on the play, as her initial shot was punched away by UNCG keeper Kelsey Kearney.

Now trailing the fourth-ranked team in the country, the Spartans’ challenge got even bigger seven minutes later when senior Lauren Lopez was sent off. Lopez and the Cardinal’s Kelley O’Hara got tangled up deep in UNCG territory, and Lopez was given a red card with 58:05 gone, forcing the Spartans to play a man down for the final 31:55.

The contest was a defensive struggle on both sides. UNCG’s best scoring chances came early in the game, as Katie Evans and Heather Mitrisin both had close-range shots blocked off a UNCG free kick in the sixth minute.

The Cardinal had a couple of narrow misses in the first half, as well. In the 15th minute, Allison McCann got free on a breakaway, but her shot rolled just inches wide of the left post. Christen Press had a nearly identical opportunity in the 28th minute, but her shot went begging, as well.

UNCG found itself with numbers in the 31st minute, but senior Jen Bronson’s shot from the top of the 18-yard box was too high.

The Spartans had an outstanding opportunity to tie it in the 63rd minute, with Kristin Player slipping behind the Stanford defense and drawing out keeper Kira Maker. Maker was able to corral the ball, but the play was waved off when Player was called for offsides.

Stanford continued to press on offense, getting off three corner kicks and four shots in the final 10 minutes. The shorthanded Spartans stood their ground, however, keeping the Cardinal from adding on.

Kearney made five stops and allowed just one goal in taking the tough-luck loss in the net.

The Spartans return to action on Sunday when they close out the UNCG Spartan Classic at 2:30 p.m. against Virginia Commonwealth, which features former UNCG assistant Siri Mullinix and former UNCG player Jamie Corti on its coaching staff.