Despite scoring the game’s opening goal, the North Carolina men’s soccer team (6-4-4, 2-2-3 ACC) played to a draw against the Boston College Eagles (3-6-4, 1-4-2 ACC), 1-1, at the Newton Campus Soccer Field.
What happened?
North Carolina would strike first in its third-straight away bout. After a Boston College foul set up a set piece for the Tar Heels, junior forward Ernest Bawa’s twirling boot found the head of junior forward Akiem Clarke, who gave UNC an early lead.
Securing the night’s first goal appeared to give the Tar Heel sideline a spark in the tilt’s early goings, but the Eagles would respond.
In the 26th minute, a costly foul by Clarke would award the Eagles a free kick deep in their attacking third. Boston College would pay off the set piece, as senior forward Stefan Sigurdarson’s header snuck past redshirt first-year goalie Andrew Cordes.
Despite relinquishing its early lead, North Carolina continued to pressure the Eagles’ back line. The Tar Heels would tally three shots in the back half of the first period — including a point-blank blast from Clarke that nearly found the back of the net. But UNC would come up empty and entered the half tied with Boston College at one goal apiece.
Out of the break, the possession-dominant first half by the Tar Heels failed to carry over.
The Eagles would come out on the attack in the final 45 minutes and blast six shots — three of which were on goal. Yet Cordes remained stout and denied every Boston College chance, leading North Carolina to a 1-1 tie against the Eagles.
