University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, December 2
Cary, N.C. (WakeMed Soccer Park)
6:00 p.m.
North Carolina
2
vs
1
Fordham
UNC Tops Fordham 2-1, Heads Back To College Cup
December 2, 2017 | Men's Soccer
North Carolina punched its ticket back to the NCAA Men's College Cup with a 2-1 win over Fordham Saturday night in front of a standing room only crowd. Second half goals from seniors Zach Wright and Alan Winn propelled the Tar Heels to back-to-back College Cup appearances and the sixth in the last 10 years, more than any other program in the country during that time.
After a scoreless first 60 minutes the Tar Heels got on the board first as Jack Skahan lofted a ball in to the box looking for Wright. The ball missed several Fordham defenders while Winn battled for position and landed right in front of Wright who absolutely smashed a rocket off the far post and in to the back of the net. The goal was the fourth of the season for Wright while Skahan picked up his third assist of the season.
Fordham didn't waste any time in answering as they scored a minute and 21 seconds later off a free kick from 20 yards out. Jannik Loebe's free kick deflected off the back of a Tar Heel defender and redirected past goalkeeper James Pyle to tie the game at 1-1.
Both teams created several chances over the next 15 minutes, but the Tar Heels found the game winner in the 79th minute with a header from Winn. Cam Lindley played the ball to the right side and found Wright, who once again beat his defender, and crossed the ball in to the box for a streaking Winn who headed it home from six yards out. The goal was Winn's team leading 11th of the season with Wright recording his 11th assist and Lindley recording his team leading 13th assist of the season. With Lindley's assist he now has more assists in a single season in Tar Heel history than anyone since Matt Crawford set the record with 16 in 2002.
The victory gave the Tar Heels its 8th NCAA College Cup appearance, its sixth in the last 10 years and back-to-back College Cup appearances for the first time since the team went four straight years from 2008-2011. The Tar Heels will take on the Indiana Hoosiers in the semifinals of the NCAA Championship on Friday in Philadelphia at Talon Energy Stadium. The Heels are 4-3 all time against Indiana and last played the Hoosiers in a 1-0 defeat in the quarterfinals of the 2012 NCAA Championship.
Over the last 10 seasons, UNC leads all other programs in the following:
After a scoreless first 60 minutes the Tar Heels got on the board first as Jack Skahan lofted a ball in to the box looking for Wright. The ball missed several Fordham defenders while Winn battled for position and landed right in front of Wright who absolutely smashed a rocket off the far post and in to the back of the net. The goal was the fourth of the season for Wright while Skahan picked up his third assist of the season.
Fordham didn't waste any time in answering as they scored a minute and 21 seconds later off a free kick from 20 yards out. Jannik Loebe's free kick deflected off the back of a Tar Heel defender and redirected past goalkeeper James Pyle to tie the game at 1-1.
Both teams created several chances over the next 15 minutes, but the Tar Heels found the game winner in the 79th minute with a header from Winn. Cam Lindley played the ball to the right side and found Wright, who once again beat his defender, and crossed the ball in to the box for a streaking Winn who headed it home from six yards out. The goal was Winn's team leading 11th of the season with Wright recording his 11th assist and Lindley recording his team leading 13th assist of the season. With Lindley's assist he now has more assists in a single season in Tar Heel history than anyone since Matt Crawford set the record with 16 in 2002.
The victory gave the Tar Heels its 8th NCAA College Cup appearance, its sixth in the last 10 years and back-to-back College Cup appearances for the first time since the team went four straight years from 2008-2011. The Tar Heels will take on the Indiana Hoosiers in the semifinals of the NCAA Championship on Friday in Philadelphia at Talon Energy Stadium. The Heels are 4-3 all time against Indiana and last played the Hoosiers in a 1-0 defeat in the quarterfinals of the 2012 NCAA Championship.
Over the last 10 seasons, UNC leads all other programs in the following:
- NCAA Championship wins: 23
- Sweet 16 Appearances: 9
- Elite 8 Appearances: 8
- Men's College Cup Appearances: 6
Players Mentioned
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