GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's soccer team will return to the 'Boro to host Tennessee Tech and Mercer in Southern Conference (SoCon) action at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
The Golden Eagles, who joined the conference this summer, and the Spartans will face off on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Bears travel to Greensboro on Sunday with a kickoff slated for 1 p.m.
UNCG and Tennessee Tech have played each other once in program history, back in 2016. The Spartans captured a 3-0 victory in Greensboro.
The Spartans hold the advantage against the Bears with a 7-3-5 record. Mercer took the 1-0 win last year in Macon, and prior to that the two teams tied.
Game 12: UNC Greensboro vs. Tennessee Tech
Game 12: UNC Greensboro (5-4-2, 1-1-1 SoCon) vs. Tennessee Tech (3-5-4, 0-1-2 SoCon)
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Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Soccer Stadium)
Promotions: First 100 UNCG students will receive a free beanie. Pink Game!
Coverage: Live Stats: Click here | Video: ESPN+
Social media: Twitter: @UNCGWSoccer | Instagram: @UNCGWSoccer | Facebook: UNCGWomenSoccer
Game 13: UNC Greensboro vs. Mercer
Game 13: UNC Greensboro (5-4-1, 1-1-0 SoCon) vs. Mercer (5-5-1, 0-2-0 SoCon)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Soccer Stadium)
Promotions: Homecoming Weekend. Youth Game (free popcorn refill for kids that wear a jersey). Postgame autographs.
Coverage: Live Stats: Click here | Video: ESPN+
About the Spartans
- The Spartans concluded the 2025 season 4-12-3 overall and 2-4-3 in the SoCon.
- The Blue & Gold tallied five shutouts and scored 22 goals, which is the most since the 2022 season.
- The Spartans were voted to finish seventh in the 2026 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 43 points.
- Senior midfielder Rina Ogimoto was named to the 2026 SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
- Ogimoto started in all 19 games last season for the Blue & Gold with a total of 1,465 minutes. She notched a team-best six goals and 14 points, along with two assists, during the 2025 campaign.
- The Spartans added nine newcomers to a roster of 18 returners.
- Sophomore Laney Smith is leading the Spartans' offense with 13 points (5G, 3A).
- Classmate Madison Bass and Ogimoto are second on the team with five points, both scoring two goals and one assist.
- Freshman Summer Kaufman is second with two helpers, while junior Avery Barr is the only other Spartan with multiple goals this season, scoring two.
- Freshman goalkeeper Blythe Clark has played in 900 minutes, totaling 37 saves and allowing 15 goals.
- Clark is ranked second in the SoCon in minutes played (900) and fifth in total saves (37).
- Smith is eighth in the SoCon in total points and 10th with five goals.
- The Spartans opened 2026 with a 1-0 victory over Triad rival High Point, marking their first season-opening win since 2023.
- UNCG claimed its second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over Radford at home on Aug. 30.
About the Golden Eagles
- Tennessee Tech concluded the 2025 season 7-7-8 overall and 6-0-3 in its last season with the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).
- The Golden Eagles clinched the OVC's automatic bid last season into the 2025 NCAA Tournament by defeating Lindenwood, 2-0, in the championship game. This was the second bid in school history and first time in 25 years.
- Tech was matched with Vanderbilt in the opening round and fell 2-0.
- The Golden Eagles were voted to finish eighth in the 2026 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Emelia Kruger is leading the scoring with one goal and two assists for four points.
- Kayla Childs is second on the team with one goal and one assist for three points.
- Laila McNamee, with 1.67 goals-against average, and Drew Tolley, with 1.57 GAA, have split time in net thus far for the Golden Eagles.
- Opponents are outmatching Tech in goals (19-7), shot attempts (156-76) and corner kicks (75-33).
About the Bears
- Mercer will host The Citadel at Betts Stadium before traveling to Greensboro for the Sunday afternoon battle.
- The Bears concluded the 2025 season 10-7-3 overall and 3-3-3 in the SoCon, falling to top-seeded Samford in the championship game.
- Mercer was voted to finish sixth in the 2026 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Payton Nutzman and Ella Parker received Preseason All-Conference honors.
- Olivia Bori is pacing the team with seven goals and three assists for 17 points. Her goals are second in the SoCon and 30th in the nation, while her points are third in the conference and 36th in Division I.
- Zibby Michaelson is second on the team with six goals for 12 points.
- Anna Bachman has a team-best seven assists and one goal this season for nine points. Her helpers are first in the SoCon and sixth in the nation.
- The Bears have put three different goalkeepers in net this year.
- Mercer is outscoring its opponents 26-15 and outmatching them in shots 187-131.
- Mercer is leading the conference with 17.00 shots per game.
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Up next
UNCG will hit the road for a SoCon battle against Furman on Thursday, Oct. 15 in Greenville, South Carolina, at Stone Stadium. The game is slated for 6 p.m.
The Spartans then return home to Greensboro to host ETSU on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
