But to UNC head coach Elmar Bolowich, there is no such thing as an exhibition.
"You don't want to play friendlies," Bolowich said. "In friendlies you lower your standards.
"We ask our players to play 100 percent all the time. That's the only way we can get stronger."
With that in mind, does Bolowich stick to the soccer adage that says you must win your games at home, and hope for a tie on the road?
And since SAS Stadium is technically not UNC's home, can the Tar Heels walk away from their 2-2 draw with UConn Saturday night happy?
"It's a great start for the season," forward Ryan Kneipper said. "It's good to come out and start with a match like that. It gives us a good idea of where we're standing, and this was a good test to see how we play with a new defense against a solid, good opponent."
"I thought our defense played a hell of a game," Bolowich said. "We've got to take some confidence from this game because that is a heck of a team."
Bolowich's praise for his defense comes off the fact that the Tar Heels did not allow a goal during the flow of the game.
Led by David Stokes, the backline thwarted several UConn advances, and UNC goalkeeper Jay Batt was never seriously challenged.
In addition to Stokes and company, part of the defensive success lies with the attack.
North Carolina came out with offensive pressure that wouldn't allow UConn to get a shot off until the 18th minute.
But with all the hard work up front, the Tar Heels were unable to convert several scoring chances.
In the fourth minute, Kneipper flicked a header on to David Testo, who was seven yards from the goal, but he misplayed the ball and UConn goalie Adam Schuerman collected it.
A minute later, Testo sent a ball over the UConn defense to Kneipper, who had beat the offsides trap. In all alone, Kneipper ripped a shot at the near post, but Schuerman made the save.
"It's key for our offense to help with the defense, " Kneipper said.
"We have to start the defense up top and put the pressure on first. And if we don't put that pressure on, then we're putting too much on the shoulders of our defensive players."
UNC finally found pay dirt with just under two minutes to play in the first half. Midfielder Marcus Storey was taken down inches from the UConn endline, setting up a free kick.
Matt Crawford served a curling ball to Kneipper, who flicked a header from six yards out into the right corner of the net, giving UNC a 1-0 advantage.
Thinking they would take the lead into the locker room, the Tar Heels sat back to let time expire, only time hit a standstill with 13 seconds remaining on the clock.
Referee Roger Morton whistled UNC defender Tim Merritt for a handball inside the box at 44:47, setting up a UConn penalty kick. Cesar Cuellar stepped to the penalty spot and sent a blast into the lower right corner of the net to tie the game, 1-1.
"(The handball) is just unfortunate," said co-captain Logan Pause.
"It shows our lack of concentration after we score goals with two minutes left in the game. We got punished for lightening up. "
The score remained 1-1 until 54:21 of the second half, when it appeared UConn's Lindon Pecorelli took a dive just outside the box, but McGinty was called for the foul.
Again it was Cuellar who stepped over the dead ball.
And again he sent a rocket towards the far post and into the upper corner of the net, past the outstretched Batt to give UConn the lead, 2-1.
Similar to the first half, UNC had several chances throughout the second to tie the score, but could not convert.
Also similar to the first half, the Tar Heels found the back of the net with little time left in the match.
With 5:34 remaining, Mike Gell struck a shot from 18 yards away that caromed off a UConn defender and straight into the net to tie the game, 2-2.
And that's how it would end.
Although pleased with the outcome, Bolowich pointed out where the Tar Heels have room for improvement.
"You know in the end, our defense still has to solidify itself," he said. "We still have keep the shutouts, we still have to make sure that we don't allow goals. We cannot put that pressure on the offense all the time."
UNC begins defense of its NCAA championship Aug. 30 in Chapel Hill against Akron.
The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.
