The No. 24 UNC men’s soccer team began its season with a win Thursday night at Dorrance Field, defeating visiting Air Force 2-1.

Though Carolina ended up controlling the match, things got off to a rather inauspicious start. The Falcons found the back of the net less than four minutes into the first half, stunning the Carolina crowd. The goal was one of just three shots Air Force took on the night.

The Tar Heels would take the lead back before halftime, with goals from graduate midfielder Milo Garvanian and redshirt junior forward Key White doing the damage. It was White’s first goal in two seasons, as the striker from Norfolk, VA didn’t play at all last fall. White, who came off the bench as a substitute, was one of five Tar Heels to record a shot on goal. As a team, UNC outshot the Falcons 12-3 and held an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks.

With the 2-1 win, Carolina is still undefeated in home openers under head coach Carlos Somoano. Thursday’s match was the first of two in the Carolina Nike Classic. UNC will host South Florida at Dorrance Field in the second game of the event on Sunday. That match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and will be available to stream on ACC Network Extra.

 

Featured image via UNC Men’s Soccer on Twitter

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

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 […]
›