PEMBROKE – Visiting Wingate used a 65th
minute header from Jamie McKenna to score the game's only goal as
the Bulldogs shook off a phenomenal outing by UNCP goalkeeper Ryan
Hanson to spoil the debut of head coach Phil Hindson with a 1-0
victory over the Braves in the season opener for both sides
Thursday evening at Varsity Grounds.
Hanson made two outstanding saves in the opening period, including
a 13th minute point-blank strike by Felippe Imperatriz. The stops
were part of a six-save night for the Cary native. The visitors
outshot the Braves by a 17-10 margin, including a 7-3 edge in the
shots on goal column. Newcomers Martin
Tomter and Braxton
Perkins each contributed a team-leading two shots for UNCP
(0-1-0). Joey Calandra posted to clean sheet for Wingate (1-0-0)
while registering a trio of saves.
The loss marred the UNCP head coaching debut of Hindson who took
over the program in Pembroke after spending the last six seasons on
the coaching staff at Clemson. The loss also marked the
sixth-straight season-opening setback for the Braves as well.
"I am very encouraged by what I saw tonight," Hindson said. "We
never like to lose, but the game could have gone either way. They
outshot us, obviously, but we had our opportunities as well. We
just have to be more dangerous in the final third. We have to want
to score and get in better position to score. I think we are too
content, at times, of just getting into position and that's not
good enough. We defended well, but unfortunately they just caught
us in one opportunity in the second half."
Hanson proved well up to the challenge of the visitors in the
opening half and gave UNCP a morale boost by stuffing a handful of
opportunities in the first 45 minutes. The Braves controlled much
of the play in the final 15 minutes of the opening stanza, but were
unable to cash in despite a pair of quality chances.
The Bulldogs found the only three shots in the first 16 minutes of
the second half before breaking the deadlock at the 64:39 point
when Gui Lima's brilliant service found the head of McKenna who
redirected with a header past the outstretched fingers of Hanson.
The Black and Gold had its best chance to score down the stretch
when rookie Brett Luccia
found himself in space at the top of the penalty area, but his
cannon shot sailed just high of the Wingate pipes.
UNCP will be back in action again on Sunday when the Braves suit
up to host region rival Lenoir-Rhyne (0-0-0) in a 7:30 p.m. matchup
at Varsity Grounds. Admission to all 2010 UNCP soccer home games is
free.
