With just under three minutes to go in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina men's soccer team senior Tim Merritt took a shot from the top of the penalty box.
George Washington goalkeeper Derek Biss stopped it, and Merritt's head collapsed into his hands, knowing his shot was probably the last chance the Tar Heels would have as they fell 1-0 to the Colonials on Friday night at Fetzer Field.
George Washington struck early, as Frank Ambrosio put a header past UNC goalie Ford Williams in the second minute.
Williams stopped the ball just around the goal line, and while he seemed to think he saved the ball, the sideline referee had a different opinion.
"The ball was out wide, left hand side, crossed in, flicked on," Williams said. "We had someone going up man to man on the backpost, ball came down, bounced, touched it, got the ball before it crossed the line, started my distribution, whistle blew. That's the game."
Merritt also disagreed with the referee's decision on the early goal.
"No way (it crossed the line)," he said.
The early goal seemed to shock the Tar Heels, and it gave GW a much-needed confidence boost.
While UNC was unable to net the elusive game-tying goal, it certainly wasn't because of a lack of chances.