UNC men’s soccer loses 1-0 to Creighton in third round of NCAA Tournament

There’s a certain cruelty in what’s known around the world as the beautiful game. In soccer more so than in other sports, the team that plays the best doesn’t always win.

That was the case in many ways in the North Carolina men’s soccer team match on Saturday night against Creighton. In the third round of the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels amassed a 21-9 advantage in shots, but a 1-0 deficit in goals, ending their season. 

“There’s only one significant stat in soccer, and that’s goals scored,” Coach Carlos Somoano said. 

Saturday’s matchup might have been better suited for a semifinal or championship matchup. Both UNC and Creighton were ranked among the nation’s top two teams for long stretches this season. 

But only one team was going to play next week in the NCAA quarterfinals. 

UNC seemed like it was going to be that team. The Tar Heels put the clamps on the explosive Bluejay offense, controlling possession and keeping Creighton pinned back in their defensive third of the field.

“I think we were moving it pretty well,” Somoano said. “We were pretty hard to handle tonight in most categories — except for the one that mattered.”

Near the end of the first half, senior Jonathan Campbell — a season-long defensive stalwart and a first-team All-ACC pick — failed a clearance attempt. The ball hit senior Raby George in the back and rolled straight to Creighton’s Timo Pitter, who took a few steps and then fired off a shot that deflected off Campbell’s foot into the goal. 

“It’s a tough one to swallow,” Campbell said.

Undaunted, UNC continued like it had before, stringing passes together to maintain possession and clip the wings of the Bluejay attack.

Creighton adapted from its usual strategy and held on, packing the box tight and stymieing the UNC attack. Still, 21 shots are a lot to survive.

“Maybe we got a little bit lucky today, but I also think you have to fight for your luck, and as a team we absolutely did everything we could,” Creighton defender Vincent Keller said. 

As the clock ticked down during the second half, UNC still could not find the back of the net. Shot after shot, 11 of them in the final 25 minutes, sailed high or wide of the goal. Often the shots came from well outside the box, as players pulled the trigger quickly from distance rather than work the ball around for a better look. 

“It certainly wasn’t desperation,” Somoano said. “Players have to trust their instincts, and if that’s what they felt in the moment, that’s what they go for.”

The Tar Heels were no strangers to goals during the season, scoring 39 of them. But they only needed one on Saturday — and that proved to be too much to ask. 

“To score a goal requires composure in a very quick, split-second moment,” Somoano said. “We’ve all seen it in soccer.

“Sometimes it just doesn’t go in.”

@loganulrich

sports@dailytarheel.com