In its final match in Greensboro this season, the No. 5 UNC men’s soccer team (9-1, 3-0 ACC) faced off against Winthrop (2-5-1) in dominant fashion, dismantling the Eagles to the tune of 4-0.
What happened?
The Tar Heels got off to a hot start and never turned back. In the second minute, senior Zach Wright played an easy ball across the box to redshirt sophomore Jelani Pieters, who placed it into the back of the net with no one in front of him to make the score 1-0.
In the 11th minute, nearly the exact same thing happened. But Pieters was unable to get the ball in, as it went just left of the post. However, Winthrop’s goalie made a critical mistake 30 seconds later and basically passed the ball to Wright, who in turn placed it perfectly just past the keeper for a goal.
Chances were easy to come by for UNC, but another goal wasn’t scored until the 42nd minute, when first-year Lucas del Rosario scored on the counter attack to bring the score 3-0 just before halftime. The Tar Heels recorded 10 shots in the first half to Winthrop’s zero.
The Tar Heels momentum on the offensive end slowed a bit in the second half, though they continued to dominate possession. There were a couple point-blank attempts 10 minutes into the second half, but Winthrop’s goalie came up big, keeping the score 3-0.
About 15 minutes into the second half, head coach Carlos Somoano began to sub in reserve players to give the starters rest, including Wright and, later, goalkeeper Alec Smir.
UNC put the icing on the cake in the 71st minute with another easy goal, this time by redshirt freshman Giovanni Montesdeoca off the assist from del Rosario.
The final score was 4-0, but a different stat portrays UNC’s domination the best: UNC had 17 shots while Winthrop had zero.
