The No. 3 North Carolina men’s soccer team defeated No. 23 Virginia Tech 2-0 on Saturday to clinch the ACC Coastal Division Championship.
What happened?
Virginia Tech (9-4-3, 2-4-1 ACC) started the game the more dominant than UNC (11-2-2, 5-1-1) did. The Hokies’ midfield controlled the game early, finding space along North Carolina’s flanks and firing crosses into the box at will.
Whether it was due to senior night nerves or the strength of the opponent, UNC struggled to maintain possession and string together passes.
The Tar Heels couldn’t get a shot off until the 17th minute, when, against the run of play, they earned a penalty. Redshirt senior defender Walker Hume was brought down in the box after receiving the ball off a set piece from first-year midfielder Cam Lindley.
Junior midfielder David October took the penalty for North Carolina. He calmly stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball past the outstretched arms of Virginia Tech’s keeper into the left corner of the net to give UNC a 1-0 lead.
But the Tar Heels failed to capitalize on this opportunity to grab control of the game, and the Hokies continued to control the pace for the rest of the first half.
The second half was a different story.
North Carolina’s midfield began holding onto the ball for longer stretches of time and exploiting holes in Virginia Tech’s back line. UNC was much more assertive in the half, outshooting the Hokies 9-5.
