WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Sophomore midfielders
Colton Pleasants and
Gabe Mercer each scored a goal in the second half to lead UNCW to a 2-0 victory over UNCG in the men's soccer season opener for both teams at the UNCW Soccer Stadium on Saturday evening.
After a scoreless first half, Pleasants gave the Seahawks a 1-0 lead when he knocked in a rebound of his own shot past sophomore goalkeeper Brendan Pulley.
Mercer upped the advantage to 2-0 with 42 seconds remaining when he scored the first goal of his college career after taking a pass from sophomore forward
Cannon Tootle and slipping a shot inside the near post.
Led by sophomore goalkeeper
Gabriel Perrotta, the UNCW defense limited the Spartans to just four shots. Perrotta recorded his ninth career shutout after making two saves.
Pulley tallied three saves in the loss for UNCG.
Game Notes:
- UNCW earned its third straight victory against UNCG and now leads the all-time series by a 9-6-2 margin.
- The Seahawks played their first game in 447 days ... It was their first contest since a 1-0 setback against James Madison in the CAA Championship Game on Nov. 17, 2019.
- The Seahawks improved to 30-22-3 all-time in season openers, including a 14-11-3 mark at home.
- Sophomores Dominic Toone and Parker Norris made the first start of their college careers.
- UNCW has now scored two or more goals in a game 11 times since the start of last season, posting a 10-1-0 mark in those contests.
- The Seahawks have now outscored their opponents by a 15-3 margin over their last 10 games, dating back to last season.
- Mercer's goal is the latest netted by the Seahawks in regulation since Danny Reynolds scored with 29 seconds remaining against Northeastern on Sept. 28, 2019.
- UNCW has now scored 13 goals in the final 15 minutes of regulation of games since the start of the 2019 season.
Up Next: The Seahawks continue their season-opening homestand next Saturday, Feb. 13, with a visit from former Colonial Athletic Association rival VCU at 6 p.m.
