UNC men’s soccer still awaits challenges

It’s a story as old as sport itself — that of the underdog.

For the No. 16 North Carolina men’s soccer team, it’s a story that has been relatively unfamiliar during the 2014 season.

But after losing in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship, getting an at-large bid to the 2014 NCAA College Cup and earning a 6-0 victory over James Madison Thursday, the Tar Heels have been thrust into the tale and are hoping the next few chapters will fall in their favor.

Entering the game against the Dukes, Carolina played 16 of its 18 games as the favorite in terms of rank, going 13-3 in those contests.

Thursday saw the Tar Heels in what could possibly be their last game playing the role of Goliath, and despite a slow first half, they showed why they had rarely filled the role of David.

“We always have confidence. That isn’t something that’s going to change going forward,” said senior forward Andy Craven. “We put away a bunch of chances and scored some goals, and that’s what we try to do every time we step out on the field.”

Craven had three goals in the game against the Dukes.

With the win, UNC will advance to the second round of the College Cup, where in-state opponent and the No. 10 national-seed UNC-Charlotte lies waiting. The 49ers, who the Tar Heels beat in the 2011 College Cup final, will provide a physical challenge for UNC, something senior forward Rob Lovejoy is looking forward to.

“You have to expect (the physicality). It’s the NCAA tournament,” Lovejoy said.

Craven agreed.

“They’re out for blood,” he added.

Beyond UNC-C, a bevy of highly-ranked opponents — including three teams on UNC’s side of the bracket that they have already played in 2014 — could line the path of what North Carolina hopes to be a run at its second NCAA crown in four years.

In the third round, the Tar Heels could face off against Clemson, the No. 7 national seed. UNC barely edged out the Tigers in October, as a double-overtime penalty kick by junior Raby George lifted the Tar Heels to a 3-2 win.

And if UNC knocks off Clemson again, California and UCLA serve as possible matchups in the quarters. UNC played both teams in the Carolina Nike Classic at the beginning of the season, earning a win over Cal but dropping the game against the Bruins.

With Clemson and Cal, UNC hopes the story reads the same way; with UCLA, the hope is that the story may be rewritten.

But before they can read that far ahead, the Tar Heels’ primary focus is on the next chapter, something Coach Carlos Somoano stressed after the win against James Madison.

“I can’t possibly think about Clemson or Cal; we’ve gotta go play the 49ers on Sunday,” he said. “We’ll see. We’re going to play our game, and we’re going to make adjustments based on what worked for us tonight.”

sports@dailytarheel.com