The No. 3 UNC men’s soccer team (6-0-3, 3-0 ACC) defeated the California Golden Bears (3-5-1, 0-3-1 ACC), 2-1, on Saturday night at Dorrance Field. The cross country travel appeared to affect the Bears as their play fell behind the fast paced play of the Tar Heels.
Field switches and good defense earned UNC its first corner of the half. The corner resulted in a shot from junior midfielder Sam Williams. The shot was saved, but the Tar Heels pressed on continuing to press for opportunities. Graduate defender Riley Thomas almost dazed the Bears off a backwards flick off a corner from Williams but again came up empty handed.
California continued to pry its way into the game with a kick and run styled offense that seemed to get around the wall of North Carolina defenders. This unorthodox offense presented several good opportunities, but the Bears couldn’t convert and the first half ended scoreless.
“We were doing what we wanted to do," head coach Carlos Somoano said. "We just weren’t doing it very well."
Starting the second half, star graduate forward Martin Vician didn’t take the field and instead was replaced by graduate forward Ahmad Al-Qaq. The fresh set of legs gave the Tar Heels two early opportunities, forcing Cal goalkeeper Marco Brougher to make tough saves.
In quick transition, California forward Nonso Adimabua let go of a rocket from outside the 18-yard box, placed perfectly in the top left corner. The goal gave the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute.
The equalizer came for the Tar Heels in the 66th minute as junior defender Parker O’Ferral scored his first goal of the season on a cross from Al Qaq. O’Ferral’s header just barely squeezed itself between the keeper's glove and the crossbar to find the back of the net.
Keeping their foot on the gas, a long crossing ball to the foot of Al Qaq left him all alone on the right side of California’s 18-yard box. Although not in a position for a high percentage shot, Al Qaq let one go. The screamer of a shot beat the goalkeeper, giving the Tar Heels a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute.
“I didn’t mean to shoot that," Al Qaq said. "But sometimes you need luck in these games."
