GREENSBORO, N.C. — UNC Greensboro men’s soccer pulled away from NC State in the second half Wednesday night, beating the Wolfpack 3-1 at UNCG Soccer Stadium. The win lifts the Spartans to 4-1-5 overall and 1-0-1 in Southern Conference play, while NC State dropped to 3-5-3 and 1-3-1 in the ACC.
It was the first UNCG win over NC State since Oct. 27, 2002. The Spartans went ahead inside the first five minutes, but NC State tied it 1-1 when Austin Bush scored into an open goal, his second goal of the season. The game stayed level through halftime.
The match turned in the 59th minute, when Wolfpack defender Riley Moloney was shown a red card, leaving NC State a man short for the rest of the night.
UNCG used the extra player. The Spartans retook the lead in the 74th minute, 60 minutes after the equalizer, and added a third goal three minutes later. Steven Hernandez supplied the game-winner, the second of his career, and became the 10th different Spartan to score this season.
Pablo Torre and Filipe Matos both got back on the scoresheet for the first time since the season-opening 4-1 win over VCU on Aug. 20, and each now has two goals and two assists. UNCG held NC State to three shots on target, the fourth straight game the Spartans have kept an opponent at that mark or fewer.
The result moves head coach Chris Rich to 4-4-5 against ACC programs at UNCG.
NC State freshman goalkeeper Gabe Lamphere made a career-high three saves in his second straight start. The Wolfpack have now lost four straight and return home Sunday, Oct. 11, to face UMKC at 6 p.m.