Hail the Spartans
Let's pause a moment in the midst of the upcoming hoops hysteria and pay homage to the UNCG men's soccer team. The Spartans will take on UC-Santa Barbara (the Gauchos, in case you were wondering) this Sunday at UNCG in the Round of 16 in the NCAA tournament.
You read that correctly. The Spartans are one of 16 teams left in the nation in the Division I soccer championships, and they're good enough to be hosting the game. Step back for a moment and think about what an accomplishment that is for a school that was Division III not too long ago and still has large commuter population among its student body.
UNCG's 19-2-1 season, which has included a lengthy stint at No. 1 in the country says a lot about its coach, Michael Parker, and his staff. It says a lot about the players, including Southern Conference player of the year Randi Patterson. And it says a lot about the soccer community in the Greensboro area, which has provided UNCG with several key local players and has fostered an environment in which this hometown David can take on the Goliaths of the soccer world and win more often than not.
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