Chansky's Notebook: Finding The Light

Carolina men’s soccer is getting its fair share of daylight.

There is no question that the shadow cast by UNC Hall of Fame coach Anson Dorrance’s program is immense. Dorrance is considered one of the architects of the women’s game with 22 national championships and going for another in this weekend’s College Cup, or soccer’s Final Four, of the COVID-interrupted 2020 season.

But the day after the women clinched that berth, Carlos Somoano’s unranked men advanced to their ninth College Cup by beating ACC rival Wake Forest 2-1. And considering that the semifinal against Marshall and, if they win, the championship game is at Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary, the Tar Heels have as good a chance as the other three left in the field.

The truth is that Dorrance’s teams have won a single national championship since 2011, the year that Somoano’s men won the school’s second NCAA title in his rookie season as a head coach. And while the men continue to play in the shade cast by the women, Somoano’s record is nevertheless impressive.

He has now coached his team into four College Cups in his ten years on the job. In the history of men’s soccer, seven of UNC’s nine have come in the last 13 years. Somoano’s team is returning for the first time since back-to-back trips in 2016 and ’17.

Nationally, Carolina men’s soccer ranks among the best programs over that dozen-plus years, leading in total NCAA tournament wins (26), Sweet Sixteen appearances (10), quarterfinal berths (9) along with the seven College Cups.

In that same span, Dorrance has won 48 NCAA games, reached seven College Cups and won three national championships after advancing to eight Sweet 16s. So Somoano’s program may not compare but has still grabbed some sunshine of its own.

Senior forward Santiago Herrera broke a 1-1 tie in the 68th minute to make UNC’s all-time NCAA record against Wake Forest 4-0.

“Our goal is to play Monday night (in the NCAA championship game),” Somoano said of possibly facing the Indiana-Pitt winner. “We believe that’s possible. Why not? We’re here, we’ve put in the work. We’re as capable as anyone else still playing.”

Photo via UNC Men’s Soccer.

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Chansky’s Notebook: Finding The Light

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