The UNC men’s soccer team dropped yet another game on Tuesday night, losing to Appalachian State 1-0. This was the Tar Heels sixth loss of the season and fifth straight game without a victory.
What happened?
The game got off to a slow start with UNC's first shot of the game not coming until the 24th minute off a missed opportunity for North Carolina. The Tar Heels’ only shot on goal wouldn’t come until the 84th minute when senior Jelani Pieters header attempt was easily corralled by the Mountaineer keeper.
Appalachian State also struggled offensively, putting only two shots of its own on frame.
Before the halftime break, each team created chances that easily could have been capitalized on. The best opportunity of the first half came on a cross from the right side that somehow made it all the way through North Carolina’s box and to the feet of an Appalachian State striker, who failed to convert on the open-goal opportunity from just a few feet out.
Minutes later, the Tar Heels won a corner that led to some quick passing in the box. The ball ended up at the feet of junior, Alex Rose, who’s outside of the foot tip would roll just past the right goal post in the 37th minute.
Around the 70th minute of play, the Appalachian State offense started to turn up the pressure on the Tar Heels, earning multiple corner kicks in a row. A corner kick in the 71st minute put the ball into the box for the Mountaineers where a foul was committed by junior defender Mark Salas, giving ASU a penalty kick opportunity.
The Mountaineers converted the penalty kick and took the 1-0 lead that they would hold for the rest of the match.
The Tar Heels turned up the offense after the Mountaineer goal, getting off two more shots included one on goal, but it wasn’t enough to equalize the score.
