The 16th-ranked UNC men’s soccer team takes a 12-5-1 record to Fetzer Field on Thursday night to face the 10-7-4 James Madison Dukes in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Tar Heels look to recover from a tough 1-0 loss suffered to Louisville in the ACC quarterfinals on November 9th.

Senior center back Boyd Okwuonu (NCAA)

Senior center back Boyd Okwuonu (NCAA)

With eight players recently named to the All-Conference team, UNC has high hopes for a deep run this season.  That number led the ACC, including three named to the first team.

Those garnering top honors were senior forward Andy Craven, the conference scoring leader (11 goals, 14 assists), sophomore midfielder Omar Holness, and arguably the top center back in college soccer, senior Boyd Okwuonu.

Craven and his trademark long, red hair will be desperately needed for a Tar Heel squad that has only scored one goal thus far in the month of November.

Senior forward Andy Craven (UNC Athletics)

Senior forward Andy Craven (UNC Athletics)

James Madison, led by senior forward Josh Grant (5 goals, 4 assists), are coming off a trifecta of surprise victories against each of the top three seeds in the Colonial Athletic Association’s conference tournament, doing exactly what was necessary to earn their ticket to the NCAA’s.  The Dukes will be looking to bring that same magic with them to Chapel Hill on Thursday.

The winner of this match earns the opportunity to travel down to Charlotte for a Sunday afternoon second round meeting with the 8th -ranked 49ers and their superb 14-3-1 record.