Tyler Engel gives UNC soccer first Tuesday home win

In just his first season as a member of the North Carolina men’s soccer team, junior transfer from Southern Methodist Tyler Engel has shown he can not only score, but win games — relying on his dominant left foot when his team is in need of a goal.

Heading into Tuesday’s game against Georgia State, Engel had scored three game-winning goals this season.

And against the Panthers, the forward did it again, turning to his trusty foot once more to deliver what would ultimately be a game-winner in UNC’s 1-0 defeat of Georgia State.

Engel’s goal — his team-high sixth of the season — gave the No. 19 Tar Heels (8-3-5, 4-1-5 ACC) their first Tuesday night home victory of the year after UNC previously picked up all three of its losses of the season on Tuesday night home games.

Coach Carlos Somoano said the team was “0-for-Tuesday.” And for Engel, redemption couldn’t have been sweeter on his team’s last chance to capture a Tuesday win.

“We created a lot of chances today and it was a good win — it was a much-needed win,” Engel said. “Playing at home should be one of our strong suits and that’s what we’re trying to focus on. I don’t want to say a relief but it was much overdue.”

After Engel gave UNC an early lead, the Tar Heel defense held strong to preserve it, limiting Georgia State to just four shots and none on goal.

On a night that he failed to record a save, goalkeeper Brendan Moore applauded his back line for the strong defensive effort in what was the redshirt junior’s ninth shutout of the season.

“Tonight, I have to give the credit to the back four. I don’t think I saved a shot tonight,” he said. “But I’m fine with games like that. I’ll take as many as those I can get.”

On the opposite side of the field, the UNC attack put pressure on the Panther defense all night, peppering the net with 17 shots, six of which were on goal. Though the Tar Heels were unable to find a second goal, Somoano commended the offense’s aggressive effort.

“I think, in terms of creating clear-cut chances, tonight may have been one of our best performances,” Somoano said. “As long as we’re creating chances like that, dictating the game the way we did — not really giving them a clear look at goal — I’m not going to complain if it’s only one.”

All it took was one shot for Engel to give the Tar Heels their fifth win in six games with his second consecutive game-winning goal.

For the forward, relying on that left foot is all in a day’s work.

“I just go out there, giving it my all and focus on doing my job because I know everybody else is going to be doing their job,” he said. “And my job is to put the ball in the goal.”

sports@dailytarheel.com