Playing in front of a packed house at Fetzer Field on Friday night–the last one it will see until 2018 as the stadium undergoes renovations–the UNC men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA College Cup in Houston with a 1-0 win over the Providence Friars in their quarterfinal match.
Drew Murphy’s overtime goal in the 102nd minute proved to be all the scoring the Tar Heels would need, as they continued to show why they’ve had the best defense in America all year long.
“I’m really proud of these guys for what they were able to do tonight,” UNC head coach Carlos Somoano said after the game. “We’re going to Houston with high ambitions. We’re not going there to celebrate, we’re going there to achieve.
A transfer from UC Santa Barbara, it was just Murphy’s second goal of the season for UNC. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)
“Drew did a great job and he’s hung in there all year, to make that happen,” the coach added. “I’m very proud of the way we’re leaving Fetzer Field tonight.”
A first-year Tar Heel who transferred from UC Santa Barbara, Murphy scored using his left foot after receiving a pass from teammate Mauricio Pineda. The ball then bounced off the gloves of Providence goalie Colin Miller and rolled into the back of the net–setting off a wild celebration among the over 4,000 fans in attendance.
“It’s all kind of a blur,” Murphy said. “The ball came into me and I’m left-footed, so I just closed my eyes and shot.”
This came after the stout UNC defense, led by goalie James Pyle, recorded its 12th clean sheet in 20 matches this season.
The Tar Heels also limited Big East Player of the Year Julian Gressel to no goals on just two shots. He came in to the night having scored in all three of Providence’s previous NCAA Tournament matches this season.
Now it’s on to the seventh Final Four in program history for UNC, and first since winning it all back in 2011.
Once in Houston, the Tar Heels will face the winner of Louisville and Stanford for a shot at the title game.
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