The North Carolina men’s soccer team opened its 2010 campaign at Fetzer Field just as it concluded the 2009 season in the NCAA semifinals in Cary — with a loss to the Akron Zips.
Though No. 1 Akron needed penalty kicks to defeat the Tar Heels in last year’s College Cup, tonight’s result was not left in doubt nearly as long, as the Zips coasted to a 3-0 victory.
The Tar Heels played well in the midfield throughout the evening, but any time UNC made it inside the 18-yard box there was an Akron defender ready to handle the challenge.
Though the Tar Heels outshot their opponents 14-6, many of those shots were ambitious efforts from distance or weak headers that failed to test Akron keeper David Meves.
UNC’s aggression left it vulnerable on its own back line. Akron’s counterattack caused plenty of problems for North Carolina in the first half, and helped stake the Zips to a 2-0 halftime lead.
The game’s first goal came just fewer than eight minutes into play, when Kofi Sarkodie streaked down the right side and made a low cross that was converted by Eric Stevenson.
UNC was again caught flat-footed in the 22nd minute when defender Eddie Ababio fouled Akron forward Darren Mattocks from behind, about 22 yards from the goal.
The Zips made UNC pay on the ensuing free kick when Perry Kitchen headed home a curling ball into the box from teammate Michael Nanchoff.
Pre-season All-American Darlington Nagbe added a third goal midway through the second half to seal the deal for the Zips.
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