Try as they might, the No. 4 UNC men’s soccer team simply couldn’t push past an upset-minded VCU team Sunday night. The Tar Heels outshot the Rams by an astonishing 50-4 margin, and yet walked away from the double overtime contest with a 1-1 tie.

The Carolina attack sent volleys flying toward VCU goalkeeper Mario Sequeira all night, but he proved up to the task with several incredible saves. He ended the night with 13 to his name.

It looked like VCU might steal their second Top 10 win of the young season after the Rams’ Damian Gallegos scored late in the first half. Sequeira continued to shine in the second half, including stopping a near own goal in the 71st minute.

But finally, Carolina’s Ernest Bawa threaded a perfectly-placed shot past the diving Sequeira and into the far corner of the net to equalize in the 83rd minute. The goal, Bawa’s second on the season, seemed cathartic for the frustrated Tar Heels, but they weren’t done knocking on Sequeira’s door. Minutes later, junior forward Jonathan Jimenez sent a shot screaming toward goal that deflected off Sequeira and the goal post. Teammate Alex Rose pounced on the rebound, but his effort again deflected off Sequeira.

The Tar Heels’ last true opportunity came off the foot of sophomore midfielder Tim Schels in double overtime. Schels corralled a short corner kick, then fired a shot toward the top corner that fooled Sequeira. But the ball strayed just too far to the left, smacking off the goal post and off to the right. It was the closest Carolina would get to a match-winner before the final horn sounded.

Despite the disappointing result, Carolina remains unbeaten and may rise in the rankings after preseason No. 1 Marshall dropped a game to Virginia Tech this weekend. UNC will next host Georgia Southern on Friday night at 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via Carolina Athletics

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