After a scoreless 90-minute regulation period, overtime of the UNC men’s soccer team’s first-round ACC Tournament match with Syracuse got off to a terrible start.

Less than 60 seconds into the first 10-minute period of sudden-death overtime, Carolina’s Riley Thomas received his second yellow card of the match. That meant Thomas received an automatic red card, disqualifying him from the rest of the match and leaving UNC with just 10 men on the field. The Tar Heels were able to survive until the second 10-minute overtime period, and then got the break they desperately needed.

The Orange’s Hilli Goldhar committed his second yellow-card foul in five minutes, which also resulted in a red card. UNC and Syracuse were now once again at even strength: 10 players each. It only took three more minutes for another critical break, as Syracuse’s Christian Curti committed another foul, the Orange’s 25th of the night, inside the 18-yard box, giving Carolina a penalty kick to win the match.

Senior Milo Garvanian, who came on strong in UNC’s three-match winning streak to close out the regular season, stepped up to the spot. His kick was perfectly placed: into the top left corner of the net. The goal broke the scoreless tie and ended the match in one fell swoop. Carolina, the No. 7 seed in the tournament field, advanced past No. 10 Syracuse with a 1-0 victory. Next up: a date with No. 2 seed Clemson in the second round.

The Tar Heels and Tigers did not meet in the 2021 regular season. The teams met three times in the 2020-21 season, with Carolina winning in Chapel Hill, drawing in Clemson and winning an exhibition game during the winter. Both are ranked in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll: Clemson checks in at No. 9 and UNC at No. 18.

Carolina has now won four straight matches, their longest streak of the season and the longest at all since 2018. They will face the Tigers on Sunday, November 7 at 8 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Soccer: Men's and Women's Teams Each Pick Up Home Shutouts
Both the UNC men’s and women’s soccer teams were in action Thursday at Dorrance Field, and both teams came away with shutout victories. In the first match of the doubleheader, the women’s team throttled UNC-Greensboro 4-0, scoring two goals apiece in the first and second halves. Freshman Bella Devey opened the scoring in the 19th […]
UNC Soccer: Men Win Opener vs. UCF, Women Lose at Georgia
The UNC men’s soccer team opened its 2025 campaign with a resounding 3-1 win against visiting UCF Thursday night at Dorrance Field. Off to a good start 📈#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/w6ygWPovus — UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) August 22, 2025 Carolina ended up winning comfortably despite giving up the night’s opening goal. UCF’s Lilian Ricol struck […]
UNC Men's Soccer Announces Schedule for 2025 Season
The UNC men’s soccer program announced its schedule for the 2025 season, which begins in August. Our 2025 schedule is HERE! 📆✍️ Won’t be long ’til we’re back at Dorrance Field 👊 pic.twitter.com/L09AsbwR6r — UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) July 22, 2025 The Tar Heels will play a pair of exhibition matches before officially opening the […]
UNC Men's Soccer's Season Ends vs. Furman in NCAA Tournament 1st Round
UNC missed its fourth penalty in a shootout, giving visiting Furman the opening it needed to advance past the Tar Heels.
UNC Men's Soccer to Face Furman in 1st Round of NCAA Tournament
The UNC men’s soccer team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Monday afternoon. The Tar Heels will host Furman in the first round at Dorrance Field on Thursday at 5 p.m. We’re in. The Tar Heels will host Furman on Thursday in the NCAA First Round! #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/VKkR6eSlCs — UNC Men's Soccer […]
4 UNC Men's Soccer Players Named to All-ACC Teams
A quartet of UNC men’s soccer players were named to the ACC’s annual all-conference teams on Wednesday afternoon. Defender Riley Thomas earned a spot on the first team, forward Martin Vician a spot on the second team, midfielder Sam Williams a spot on the third team and defender Tate Johnson a spot on the All-Freshman […]
UNC Men's Soccer Falls to Cal in ACC Tournament Opening Round
A late penalty kick goal sunk Carolina against visiting Cal, 2-1, in the opening round of the ACC Tournament at Dorrance Field on Wednesday night. The Tar Heels took an early lead on a Luke Hille goal in the seventh minute and held that advantage through halftime, but Cal flipped the match midway through the […]
UNC Men's Soccer Falls to Boston College in Regular-Season Finale
A goal from visiting Boston College in the 87th minute was enough for the Eagles to upset Carolina 1-0 at Dorrance Field on Friday night in the regular-season finale. BC had not won a match in conference play entering before Friday’s result. The Tar Heels dominated possession for most of the evening, holding a 17-4 […]
UNC Men's Soccer Holds Off No. 7 Stanford for Key ACC Win
Carolina earned one of its best results of the 2024 season on Sunday night in California, defeating No. 7 Stanford 2-1 on the road. HEELS WIN #GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/iskqbdNUFR — UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) October 28, 2024 Bertil Hansen capitalized on a Cardinal giveaway in the 38th minute to open the scoring, and Luke […]
UNC Men's Soccer Rallies to Earn 1-1 Draw at Notre Dame
Matthew Acosta scored in the 84th minute to help Carolina salvage a 1-1 draw at Notre Dame on Friday night. The Tar Heels still have just one loss on the season. UNC fell behind midway through the second half, as the Irish’s Matthew Roou beat Carolina goalkeeper Andrew Cordes for the game’s opening goal. The […]
›