For the first time in program history, the North Greenville Crusaders defeated the Mount Olive Trojans with a final score of 9-6 in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The Trojans, who entered the match ranked 6th in the nation, led 6-4 heading into the 4th quarter. However, NGU would dominate the final quarter, outscoring UMO 5-0 to complete the comeback victory. Thomas Cecere led the way with four goals.

Results

• Score: NGU 9 / UMO 6
• Location: Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex / Mount Olive, NC
• Records: NGU 6-5, 4-0 CC / 6-1, 1-1 CC

Recap

• NGU would get on the board first less than three minutes into the 1st quarter as Thomas Cecere would find the back of the net. Mount Olive would immediately respond with a goal of their own. Just past the five minute mark, Cecere would score his second goal to give the Crusaders a 2-1 lead. Late in the 1st, Alex Brooks scored a goal of his own to put NGU up 3-1, which would be the score at the end of the quarter.
• A rare scoreless 2nd quarter would see fifteen total shots between the two teams with eleven of those by NGU. Joe Amici would record two saves in the quarter to keep the Trojans off the board, but four saves by UMO would also keep the Crusaders off the board.
• Mount Olive would come out swinging in the 3rd quarter, connecting for a goal just past a minute in. Another goal just two minutes later would tie the match at 3-3. NGU would reclaim the lead with a man up goal by Thomas Cecere, his third goal of the match. However, Mount Olive would take over the remainder of the quarter, scoring three goals in a row to take a 6-3 lead heading to the final quarter.
• Just under three minutes into the 4th, Landon Spooner tied the match with a goal to pull the Crusaders back within a single goal. Soon after, Austin Zumbado would score the game-tying goal, and Devin Napoli would score a goal of his own a minute and a half later to give North Greenville the lead back. Cecere would put up an important insurance goal with an assist by Kyle Bollman to put NGU up by two. With just under a minute remaining, Devin Napoli put the final nail in the coffin with a goal to secure the historic Crusader victory.

Individual

• Thomas Cecere connected with 4 goals while also providing 2 ground balls and a caused turnover. He dominated in total shots with 14.
• Devin Napoli posted 2 goals of his own out of 3 total shots.
• Joe Amici provided 12 saves at goalkeeper with just 6 goals allowed.

Upcoming

• NGU will face the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday, April 10th in Tigerville.