University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, August 25
Greensboro, NC
7:30 pm
UNC Asheville
0-1-0, 0-0-0
1
at
5
UNC Greensboro
1-0-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
UNC Asheville
1
0
1
UNC Greensboro
3
2
5
Men’s Soccer drops season opener to UNC Greensboro
08.25.2022 | Men's Soccer
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The UNC Asheville men's soccer team took the loss in their season opener against UNC Greensboro losing 5-1. This loss ended the Bulldogs' streak of winning the season opener which they won the two previous consecutive seasons.
"We went toe to toe with a top 30 team in the country who has experience and maturity," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Mick Giordano. "The staff is proud of the effort and mentality from the boys tonight. We have to clean up a few aspects and continue to bring our group together as we mesh so many news faces with our returners. This had the intensity of an NCAA first round tournament game so if we want to be in those games, we need to have these experiences."
UNC Greensboro started the game on the attack as Colton Sessoms scored in the second minute of the game for the Spartans, quickly followed by a score from JC Ngando in the 12th minute. UNC Greensboro remained in control offensively and defensively for most of the first half as Ismail el Harchi Khalfi scored once more for the Spartans in the 38th minute. UNC Greensboro did not allow a shot on goal from the Bulldogs until the 39th minute.
The first shot taken by UNC Asheville proved to be the one they needed as Sammy Kilimann grabbed a loose ball and deflected a shot off a defender's leg into the back of the net for the first goal of the Bulldog's season. As a graduate transfer, Sammy grabbed his first goal as a Bulldog and his first goal in Division I play.
UNC Greensboro remained aggressive on offense as Jack Birch scored for the Spartan early into the second half. In the 61st minute, Ismail el Harchi Khalfi scored again on a deflected save from the Asheville goalkeeper Ian McGill. McGill had three saves in his first start for the Bulldogs.
"One thing that we have to sort is starting games sharper," Giordano added. "This falls solely on me and we will figure out how to solve that problem. The score maybe didn't reflect the game completely but we weren't as clinical as UNCG tonight."
The Bulldogs will play at home Sunday at Greenwood Field against Georgia Southern. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+ and is part of a double header slate as the women's team takes on South Carolina State at 4:30 p.m.
"We went toe to toe with a top 30 team in the country who has experience and maturity," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Mick Giordano. "The staff is proud of the effort and mentality from the boys tonight. We have to clean up a few aspects and continue to bring our group together as we mesh so many news faces with our returners. This had the intensity of an NCAA first round tournament game so if we want to be in those games, we need to have these experiences."
UNC Greensboro started the game on the attack as Colton Sessoms scored in the second minute of the game for the Spartans, quickly followed by a score from JC Ngando in the 12th minute. UNC Greensboro remained in control offensively and defensively for most of the first half as Ismail el Harchi Khalfi scored once more for the Spartans in the 38th minute. UNC Greensboro did not allow a shot on goal from the Bulldogs until the 39th minute.
The first shot taken by UNC Asheville proved to be the one they needed as Sammy Kilimann grabbed a loose ball and deflected a shot off a defender's leg into the back of the net for the first goal of the Bulldog's season. As a graduate transfer, Sammy grabbed his first goal as a Bulldog and his first goal in Division I play.
This goal gave Asheville a burst of energy, allowing them to put up a few more shots before the half. This energy carried over to the second half offensively for the Bulldogs as they were more consistent in controlling the ball and getting shots off against the Spartan defense.Sammy Kilimann gets the friendly deflection to collect the Bulldog's first goal of the season!#ALLinAVL pic.twitter.com/DbZlywyoxE
— Asheville Men's Soccer (@UNCAvlMSoccer) August 26, 2022
UNC Greensboro remained aggressive on offense as Jack Birch scored for the Spartan early into the second half. In the 61st minute, Ismail el Harchi Khalfi scored again on a deflected save from the Asheville goalkeeper Ian McGill. McGill had three saves in his first start for the Bulldogs.
"One thing that we have to sort is starting games sharper," Giordano added. "This falls solely on me and we will figure out how to solve that problem. The score maybe didn't reflect the game completely but we weren't as clinical as UNCG tonight."
The Bulldogs will play at home Sunday at Greenwood Field against Georgia Southern. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+ and is part of a double header slate as the women's team takes on South Carolina State at 4:30 p.m.
Team Stats
UNCA
UNCG
Goals
1
5
Shots
8
20
Shots on Goal
2
8
Saves
3
1
Corners
4
4
Fouls
15
17
Scoring Plays
Colton Sessoms (1)
Assisted By: Ethan Conley
GOAL by UNCG Sessoms, Colton Assist by Conley, Ethan.
01:56
JC Ngando (1)
GOAL by UNCG Ngando, JC.
11:55
Ismail el Harchi Khalfi (2)
Assisted By: JC Ngando
GOAL by UNCG Khalfi, Ismail el Harchi Assist by Ngando, JC.
37:47
Sammy Kilimann (1)
GOAL by UNCA Kilimann, Sammy.
38:31
Jack Birch (1)
GOAL by UNCG Birch, Jack.
47:05
Ismail el Harchi Khalfi (2)
Assisted By: Marco Afonso
GOAL by UNCG Khalfi, Ismail el Harchi Assist by Afonso, Marco.
60:42
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
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