No. 4 North Carolina Pulls Away Late for 3-0 Win over Virginia

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 4 North Carolina Friday evening in front of 2,569 fans at Klöckner Stadium. UNC broke open a tightly-contested match with a pair of goals in the final 15 minutes.

Will Bates took four shots, including two on goal, for Virginia (5-4-0, 1-1-0 ACC), but the Tar Heels (7-1-0, 2-1-0) scored a goal midway through the first half and then withstood a Virginia charge in the second half before putting the game away late.

The Tar Heels out-shot UVa, 13-10. Virginia held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. UNC committed 14 fouls, while UVa was assessed 12.

Virginia goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita made three saves, while UNC keeper Scott Goodwin was credited with a pair of saves.

UNC held a 10-5 advantage in shots in the first half and controlled play for much of the way. UVa had a great chance in the first minute when Bates broke loose on the left side of the box, but he was stuffed by Goodwin. LaCivita made a pair of excellent saves early in the half, but Carolina broke through in the 29th minute. Following a deflection just outside the box, Billy Schuler scooped up the ball and slotted a shot to the right corner just past LaCivita. The goal was Schuler’s sixth of the season.

UVa controlled play early in the second half and strung together several good scoring chances but had nothing to show for it. In the 76th minute, UVa was called for a foul in the box, and Martinez converted on the penalty kick to push the UNC lead to 2-0.

The Tar Heels capped the scoring in the 81st minute when Carlos McCrary headed a Mikey Lopez cross just over an outstretched LaCivita to the right side of the goal.

The Cavaliers have a week off before their next match on Sept. 30 at Clemson.