UNC men’s soccer clinches Coastal Division behind substitutions

The No. 6 North Carolina men’s soccer team went into Friday night’s clash with Louisville looking for not only a win, but also momentum heading into the final week of the regular season.

The Tar Heels’ 2-1 win over the Cardinals clinched the ACC Coastal Division and was aided by their possession-oriented offense. Although UNC didn’t get on the scoreboard until the second half, the offensive pressure was evident from the first whistle.

In the first half of the game, the Tar Heels (13-1-1, 6-1-0 ACC) controlled possession almost exclusively and made the Cardinals (6-7-3, 1-3-3 ACC) play at a pace they weren’t ready for.

Sophomore forwards Alan Winn and Zach Wright drove the North Carolina attack from the early stages, carrying the ball for long periods of time in the upperthird of the field.

“I thought we had some great looks in the first half,” Coach Carlos Somoano said.

“We did some nice things, but they kind of forced us into a different, more patient game.”

With UNC trailing 1-0 in the 63rd minute, Somoano substituted redshirt junior Tucker Hume into the game. Thirty-one seconds after the forward re-entered the contest, he scored off of a throw-in from redshirt senior Jordan McCrary.

The goal marked Hume’s eighth of the season, a team best.

“I’m looking for Tucker every time,” McCrary said. “He’s such a hassle in the box.”

With just over seven minutes to play in the game, McCrary threw in another ball, which found the head of senior defender Jonathan Campbell.

Campbell flicked it toward redshirt first year forward Andy Lopez, who touched it past the Cardinals’ goalkeeper to give the Tar Heels a 2-1 lead.

Lopez’s goal came a minute and 10 seconds after he subbed into the match.

“I know our two big guys Tucker (Hume) and Jonathan (Campbell) were winning all the headers,” Lopez said. “So I just tried to read the flicks, and I was there at the right place at the right time.”

All of the possession and high-powered attacking from the Tar Heels was impressive, but it would be the throw-ins from McCrary to two substitutes that would do the damage.

“We’ve worked on (our throw-ins), and we’ve had success with them in the past,” McCrary said. “(Friday) everyone saw why we are focused on it.”

Game after game, Hume — who is 6-foot-5 and 211 pounds — and Lopez have proved to be crucial as offensive substitutes in UNC’s attacking success.

And just as Hume’s size has been important to the Tar Heels, so has the cannon-like arm of McCrary.

Somoano said his team is going to try to get better at its style of play, centered around its renewed 3-4-3 format.

“When you stick to your guns and what you believe in, I think you develop an identity and personality,” he said.

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