GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - UNC Greensboro secured a convincing 2-0 victory over High Point on Wednesday evening in a tightly contested conference matchup. Arnaud Tattevin and Colton Sessoms provided the goals as the Spartans improved their record to 7-2-2 on the season.
The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Arnaud Tattevin found the back of the net with a precise low shot to the left corner, assisted by Enzo Dovlo. UNC Greensboro doubled their advantage in the 45th minute through Colton Sessoms, who capitalized on another setup from Dovlo just before the halftime whistle.
The first half saw UNC Greensboro establish control early, with Daniel Longo testing the High Point defense with a blocked shot in the 5th minute. Sami Lachekar nearly extended the lead in the 9th minute with a shot that went just wide. High Point's Alfred Baafi responded with a blocked attempt in the 15th minute, but the Panthers struggled to generate consistent attacking opportunities. The half was marked by physical play, with Teva Lossec and Julien Le Bourdoulous both receiving yellow cards for the Spartans.
High Point showed more attacking intent after the break, with Mo Guettel forcing a save from Seth Wilson in the 47th minute. The Panthers made several tactical adjustments, bringing on fresh legs including Alfred Baafi for Ryan Behrmann in the 69th minute. UNC Greensboro maintained their defensive organization, with Steven Hernandez and Enzo Dovlo continuing to threaten on counterattacks. Noah Behrmann had High Point's best chance of the second half in the 89th minute, but his shot was well saved by Wilson.
The final statistics reflected the even nature of the contest, with both teams recording 13 shot attempts. UNC Greensboro held a slight edge in shots on target (7-5), while High Point earned more corner kicks (6-3). The match saw five yellow cards issued, with four going to UNC Greensboro players and one to High Point's Ryan Behrmann.
Josh Caron was solid in goal for High Point despite conceding twice, making five crucial saves throughout the match. For UNC Greensboro, Enzo Dovlo was particularly influential, providing both assists and creating several additional chances. Teva Lossec controlled the midfield effectively despite his early caution.
The tactical battle showcased UNC Greensboro's effective high-pressing system, which disrupted High Point's build-up play throughout the first half. The Panthers adjusted their approach after halftime, with Chris Niblock and Daniel Lugo pushing higher up the field, but couldn't break through the organized Spartans defense led by Julien Le Bourdoulous.
This victory extends UNC Greensboro's bounce-back from their recent loss to ETSU, while High Point's seven-match unbeaten streak comes to an end. The Panthers, who entered the match with a strong 7-1-3 record, showed flashes of the form that had propelled them to the top of their conference but ultimately couldn't match the Spartans' clinical finishing.
The match turned on the effectiveness of UNC Greensboro's counterattacking strategy, with both goals coming from well-executed transitions. Despite High Point's improved second-half performance, including five corners and several promising attacks, the Spartans' defensive unit remained resolute to secure their fourth clean sheet of the season.
Both teams return to action this weekend, with UNC Greensboro hosting VMI on Saturday evening, while High Point looks to rebound at home against USC Upstate on Sunday night.