BUIES CREEK, N.C. –
Kemy Amiche scored and
Edu Rodriguez posted a shutout in his first start of the season to lift Campbell to a 1-0 win over No. 12 UNC Greensboro Wednesday night at the Eakes Complex.
Nationally ranked for the first three weeks of the season, the Camels dropped two and tied a pair over their last four games before knocking off the Spartans (5-1-2) for the third-straight time.
"I'm really proud of our group for getting the result because we have a lot of respect for UNCG," said Campbell head coach
Dustin Fonder. "We had to dig in. Our backs have kind of been against the wall because some results haven't gone our way. This was a big momentum builder for us. Hopefully, this gives us some confidence going into conference play."
UNCG entered Wednesday's match ranked third in the country in scoring (3.0 goals per game), but was limited to nine total shots and six on target.
Amiche gave the Camels the lead after 22 minutes when
Tyler Young split the Spartan back line with a pass and the sophomore Frenchman calmly clipped the ball over UNCG keeper Niclas Wild for his fourth goal of the season.
Jalen James nearly doubled the Camel advantage minutes into the second half when he cut back in the box, but Wild dove to make a point-blank save.
Rodriguez, who started all 21 matches for Campbell's 2021 conference champs, made his first start this fall after being slowed by injury in the preseason. He preserved the Campbell lead twice in the 53rd minute when he left his feet to save Ismail El Harchi's header, then a follow shot by Marco Afonso.
Over the next 10 minutes, Amiche had two clear opportunities to add to the lead. In the 57th minute Wild made a foot save on a 1-v-1 chance. In the 63rd minute, Amiche shot just wide of the left post as Wild charged off his line.
Campbell and UNCG both finished with nine shots. The Spartans took four corner kicks to a pair for the Camels.
NOTES: The win was the third against a nationally-ranked squad for Campbell since the 2019 season and was the highest-ranked foe the Camels defeated since winning at No. 15 James Madison in the 2019 NCAA College Cup first round… CU improved to 28-2-6 in their last 36 matches at the Eakes Complex, including a 1-0-2 mark in this season. Under 8th-year Coach
Dustin Fonder, Campbell is 43-17-7 in Buies Creek… Campbell stands 16-0-3 all time in matches when 2021 Big South offensive player of the year (and '22 preseason offensive POTW)
Tyler Young has at least one point, including a 3-0-2 mark this season… Campbell opens Big South Conference play Sunday with a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at USC Upstate on ESPN+.
