The UNC men’s soccer team rallied from a halftime deficit to earn its first win of the season Friday night, a 2-1 victory at East Tennessee State. Carolina is now 1-0-1 on the season (its second game of the year was called due to rain the first half).

The Tar Heels found themselves trailing after just 9:28, but controlled the flow of play for the rest of the match and eventually earned a penalty kick in the 54th minute. Quenzi Huerman slotted the penalty home to even up the score, setting the stage for one of the strangest goals in program history.

The Buccaneers controlled the ball in their own half and passed it back toward the goalkeeper Cole Hunter. UNC’s David Bercedo gave chase, closing down on Hunter as he prepared to clear the ball. Bercedo slid and deflected the Hunter’s clearance, the ball flying back toward the Buccaneer goal and bouncing over the goal line. It wasn’t pretty, but it gave Carolina a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

The goal technically counted as a shot, one of 18 for the Tar Heels on the night and one of eight on goal. ETSU managed just five, and only one after Carolina took the lead in the 75th minute. UNC keeper Collin Travasos made a key save to keep the score level in the 74th minute, just 1:48 before Bercedo’s go-ahead goal.

Friday’s match was the first of a three-leg road trip for the Tar Heels, who will visit Richmond to take on VCU on Labor Day at 7 p.m. Carolina will open conference play at Virginia Tech the following Friday.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini

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