North Carolina goalkeeper Scott Goodwin gave a very diplomatic response when asked about the final play of North Carolina’s second-round 3-2 victory against Coastal Carolina on Sunday evening.
The ball was knocked around in front of the UNC goal, and the Chanticleers thought a Tar Heel hand had made contact.
“Honestly, I didn’t really see it after it left my hand,” Goodwin said. “I was turning back the other way after I hit it. But the whistle ran out, and that’s what matters right now.”
After UNC’s first NCAA Tournament match, the team is hoping that this survive-and-advance mentality will carry them all the way to the College Cup.
The Chanticleers presented a legitimate challenge to the top-seeded Tar Heels. Coastal Carolina’s Ashton Bennett, who entered Sunday’s matchup with a nation-leading 22 goals, stars on a roster that has collectively found the net more than any other team in the country.
“Playing against a team like Coastal, that’s the most important thing,” coach Carlos Somoano said. “Taking advantage of your opportunities, because you know they’re going to have some, too.”
The Tar Heels trailed 1-0 heading to the locker room for just the second time this season thanks to a finish from Bennett.
Nevertheless, Somoano said panic was never a factor in the Tar Heels’ play.
“You’re never excited to be down a goal,” he said. “I can’t tell you that I was thinking we were going to win the game, but I did feel like we were capable of winning the game, and I felt confident we were going to get a chance to score.”
