Most teams would be thrilled with a 4-0 shutout, but that wasn’t the resonating tone surrounding the North Carolina men’s soccer team after the No. 15 Tar Heels defeated Georgia State Tuesday evening at Fetzer Field.
UNC scored four goals on 18 shots, and the defense secured its seventh clean sheet of the season while holding its opponent to only one shot the whole game. But the players and Coach Carlos Somoano still weren’t satisfied with their performance.
“I don’t think the intensity was there,” said a frustrated Somoano about his team’s energy on the pitch. “I think there needs to be a better intensity level.”
Redshirt sophomore midfielder Nyambi Jabang, who bagged his first brace with two goals for the Tar Heels, expressed similar sentiments.
“(Coach Somoano) wasn’t really pleased with the performance,” Jabang said. “We didn’t play for each other (as a team).”
The game started slow, as if the dreary weather of the day had an effect on both teams.
In the 27th minute though, redshirt senior forward Andy Craven put UNC on the board by scoring his ACC-leading eighth goal of the season. Craven converted from 10 yards out into the left corner of the net off a series of passes from senior forward Tyler Engel and freshman forward Alan Winn for the assists.
Right after Craven’s goal, super substitution Jabang entered the game and went on a tear over the next 16 minutes, shooting five times and scoring two world-class goals.
Jabang took in a pass from junior midfielder Raby George, made a quick move past his defender on Georgia State’s side of the pitch, turned and sent a rocket of a shot from 35 yards out into the upper left corner of the net. As impressive as a goal as it was, Jabang wasn’t done.
