GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's soccer team will travel to Charleston, South Carolina, to contest The Southern Conference (SoCon) opponent The Citadel Bulldogs for a Thursday afternoon battle at 3:00 p.m. on the Parade Deck.
 
The Spartans enter the contest 3-1-3 in the last seven games. UNCG, Mercer, and Furman are tied for third in SoCon standings with 11 points. Western Carolina has 15 points and is in first place, while Samford is in second with 13 points.
 

 
SERIES HISTORY
UNCG leads the all-time series, 20-0. Last season, the Spartans claimed a 2-1 victory in Greensboro, North Carolina, where UNCG came from behind for the win.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
UNCG scored three second-half goals and played to a 3-3 tie against SoCon foe Mercer on Sunday at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. Bailey Gourdine, Taylor Mentzer and Morgan Brubaker scored the Spartans' goals, while Lydia Hindt, Nicole Hutchinson and Mel Herrera each chipped in an assist. UNCG held the advantage in shots, 21-13. The Spartans had seven corner kicks to the Bears' four.
 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• Ava Kiss paces the team with eight points scoring three goals and two assists this season.
• Merle Greulich is second on the team with three goals and one assist for seven points.
• Mentzer and Brubaker each have scored three goals for six points.
• Herrera, Gourdine, Rachel Poplin and Azumi Oka have each chipped in one goal.
• Along with Kiss, Hutchinson, Mairead Gayer and Ryen Ortiz each have two helpers.
• In net, Emma Malone has started in 13 games and played in 14 giving up 15 goals for a 1.11 goals against average.
• The Spartans have the edge over their opponents in shots, 167-136, while foes have the advantage in corner kicks, 66-62.
• UNCG had 25 shots against the Keydets and it was the first game since Sept. 7, 2023, when the Spartans had 20 or more shots. The Spartans had 20 shots against Coastal Carolina that day and won 3-0.
• UNCG has lost six games by one goal this season, which included when then-ranked No. 22 Colorado defeated the Spartans, 1-0, in August.
• Among the SoCon, UNCG is third in goals against average (1.071), fourth in goal differential (1), corner kicks per game (4.43), save percentage (.754) and shutout percentage (.286).
• Malone was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 1 for a 1-0 clean sheet against Chattanooga. This was her second career weekly award.
• She earned her first honor on Sept. 3. This was the Spartans' first SoCon Player of the Week since Oct. 28, 2022, when Nadia Wilson earned the award and first SoCon Defensive Player of the Week since Sept. 27, 2022, when Abby Buchholz earned the recognition.
• Head Coach Stefani Workman is in her first year at the helm of the Spartans and eighth year overall with the Blue & Gold.
• The Spartans were voted to finish seventh in the 2024 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Spartans added six freshmen and one graduate transfer to the 2024 roster.

 
SCOUTING THE CITADEL

• The Citadel was voted to finish ninth in the 2024 SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Bulldogs most recently lost to Chattanooga, 2-0, at Finley Stadium last Thursday.
• They have four shutouts on the season, including the most recent one being a scoreless draw to Charleston Southern on Sept. 14.
• Opponents are outmatching the Bulldogs in shots, 197-144, and corner kicks, 50-47. The Citadel has the edge in saves, 72-45.
• Ariana Paez and Chloe Washington each have scored four times this season. Paez is leading the team with 12 points and four assists.
• Washington is second on the team with nine points.
• Elisa Fuentes is third on the team with three goals and two assists for eight points, while three Bulldogs have two tallies each.
• Zoe Santos has seen the most time in net, starting in 12 and playing in 13 games. She has a 2.22 goals against average with 67 saves.
• Santos is 44^th nationally with 67 saves and 49^th with 5.15 saves per game.

 
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will host Western Carolina on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1:00 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium for UNCG's final regular season home game.

This will be the Spartans' Pink Game and the first 100 UNCG students will receive FREE socks!

The Spartans will also be collecting items at the gate for a Hurricane Helene Relief Donation Drive. Some items include: baby wipes/diapers/formula, bug spray, kitchen utensils, non-perishable foods, toiletries/sanitation items, pet food, water, cleaning supplies, flashlights, batteries, blankets, clothes, and more.