GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's soccer team begins a three-game road trip, starting with traveling to Washington, D.C., to face American on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at Reeves Field.
The Spartans then travel south to compete against James Madison on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Virginia, at Sentara Park.
This will be the second meeting between UNCG and American. The last battle was in 1991, when the Spartans won 2-0 in Washington, D.C.
The Blue & Gold holds an 8-7-3 advantage over James Madison, with the most recent game in 2023 going in favor of the Dukes, 3-0. UNCG's last win against JMU came in 2014 in Greensboro, 1-0.
Game 6: UNC Greensboro at American
UNC Greensboro (2-2-1, 0-0-0 SoCon) at American (0-3-1, 0-0-0 Patriot League)
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Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Washington, D.C. (Reeves Field)
Coverage: Live Stats: Click here | Video: ESPN+
Social Media: Twitter: @UNCGWSoccer | Instagram: @UNCGWSoccer | Facebook: UNCGWomenSoccer
About the Spartans
- The Spartans concluded the 2025 season 4-12-3 overall and 2-4-3 in the Southern Conference (SoCon).
- The Blue & Gold tallied five shutouts and scored 22 goals, which is the most since the 2022 season.
- UNCG defeated No. 10 VMI, 2-0, in the first round of the 2025 SoCon Tournament but fell to second-seeded Western Carolina, 4-3 (OT), in the SoCon quarterfinal round to conclude the season.
- The Spartans began the 2026 season with two exhibitions, including at Virginia Tech and at Davidson.
- 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, the league announced Monday.
- 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 six points (2G, 2A).
- Classmate Madison Bass is second on the team with four points with two goals.
- Freshman Summer Kaufman and Smith each pace the team with two assists.
- Freshman goalkeeper Blythe Clark has started and played all 450 minutes to start the season, totaling 13 saves and allowing eight 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 with a 3-0 win over Radford at home.
About the Eagles
- American concluded the 2025 season 3-10-4 overall and 3-5-1 in the Patriot League.
- The Eagles were voted to finish ninth in the Patriot League preseason coaches' poll.
- Phil Casella enters his first year at the helm of the Eagles following nine seasons as head coach at Wagner.
- The Eagles' leading returning scorer is junior Nariah Goldman, who netted two goals in 2025.
- AU has 10 freshmen on the roster this season.
- American's 0-3-1 overall record so far in 2026 is highlighted by a 1-1 draw with Richmond.
- The Eagles most recently fell to Longwood, 3-0, in their home opener on Aug. 23.
- Bella Miller is pacing the team with three points (1G, 1A), while Mia De Villegas-Decker and Lauren Sanders each have scored once this season.
- The Eagles' Riley Molbury has played in net for all four games, totaling 22 saves and giving up eight goals.
About the Dukes
- JMU concluded the 2025 season 9-4-6 overall and 5-2-3 in the Sun Belt Conference.
- The Dukes were voted to take the 2026 Sun Belt title after receiving 182 points and six first-place votes in the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll.
- Forward Ginny Lackey, who is the reigning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, was voted as the 2026 preseason Offensive Player of the Year and to the preseason All-Sun Belt team.
- Lackey started all 19 matches and led the Dukes in goals (11) and assists (6) for 28 total points.
- Midfielder Aleigha Arndt and defender Selma Rajakangas were also selected to the preseason All-Sun Belt team.
- JMU will face Georgetown on Thursday before hosting the Spartans.
- Most recently, the Dukes traveled to face Princeton, where the Tigers won 2-0.
- JMU earned a 2-1 victory over George Mason on Aug. 16 for its lone win.
- Lackey is currently leading the team with nine points (2G, 1A) and Aleigha has scored the only other goal for the Dukes.
- Sofia Decerb has seen the most time in net, totaling 20 saves and giving up nine goals.
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Up next
The Spartans conclude a three-game stretch away from Greensboro with a contest in Buies Creek, North Carolina, against non-conference foe Campbell on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Eakes Athletics Complex.
