The UNC men’s soccer team opened its 2025 campaign with a resounding 3-1 win against visiting UCF Thursday night at Dorrance Field.
Carolina ended up winning comfortably despite giving up the night’s opening goal. UCF’s Lilian Ricol struck in the 21st minute to give the Knights an early lead (it ended up being UCF’s only shot of the first half), but the Tar Heels equalized quickly thanks to Xavier transfer Dylan Kropp, who headed in UNC’s first goal of 2025.
The Tar Heels took the lead in the 56th minute, with SIU-Edwardsville transfer Nacho Abeal finding the roof of the net off a clinical break.
Freshman forward Ryan Dugan put the cherry on top of the winning effort with UNC’s third goal of the night in the 79th minute, hammering home a cross from teammate Luca Nikolai.
UNC outshot the Knights 17-8 in total, with Carolina goalkeeper Andrew Cordes making a pair of saves in the second half to keep UCF off the scoresheet.
The Tar Heels begin the season 1-0 for the 13th time in head coach Carlos Somoano’s 15 seasons in charge. Carolina has never lost a season opener under Somoano’s watch, accruing a 13-0-2 record in his tenure. UNC will be back in action when it hosts Seattle University Sunday night at 7:30 p.m.
The women’s team was not as fortunate Thursday, as the Tar Heels lost 2-0 at Georgia under a pouring rain in Athens. The match was delayed twice due to weather. UNC managed just one total shot in the first half and just two shots on goal for the entire match. The Bulldogs took the lead in the 51st minute after a scoreless first half, then sealed the win with a second goal in the 72nd minute. Linda Ullmark and Olivia Thomas provided UNC’s only two shots on goal.
Carolina’s two losses in true road environments are already almost equal to the total from the 2024 season, when the Tar Heels dropped three road matches.
At 1-2 overall, UNC will return home Sunday when it hosts Rice at Dorrance Field at 12 p.m.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati
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