Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Pieters Headlines Six-Goal Output In Win Over Rutgers
August 27, 2017 | Men's Soccer
CARY, North Carolina - Jelani Pieters scored twice and assisted on another goal in helping lead No. 4 North Carolina to a 6-1 victory over Rutgers on Sunday night from WakeMed Soccer Park.
Pieters was active early in the final third for the Tar Heels. A brilliant move by the Oswego, Illinois, native ended up with Pieters getting dragged down inside the box to draw a penalty.
From the spot, senior captain David October converted his second penalty in as many games to give Carolina an early lead in the eighth minute.
Carolina (2-0) waisted little time in adding to its goal total in the 10th minute. From a restart, Cam Lindley found Jeremy Kelly sprinting down the right side and he rang a shot off the cross bar and into the back of the net.
Rutgers (0-2) cut its deficit in half with an own goal in the 17th minute. With Tar Heel keeper James Pyle attempting to cut off the angle of a Rutgers player on the right side, a cross wound up deflecting off a Carolina defender and over the goal line.
Carolina got that goal back in the 30th minute to go ahead 3-1. Freshman Alex Rose, a local product in his backyard of Cary, opened his goal-scoring account when he banged in a deflection off an initial blast from classmate John Nelson.
Pieters scored his second goal of the opening weekend with a header in the 51st minute to make it 4-1 in favor of the Tar Heels. Wright started the play by juking a pair of Scarlet Knight defenders, then laid the ball off to Lindley, who played a perfect cross into a dangerous area that Pieters pounced on for the goal.
It wound up a brace for Pieters when he tapped home his second of the night in the 61st minute with Wright and Drew Murphy earning assists on the goal.
Andy Lopez put a cap on the scoring festivities with a goal in the 85th minute. His curling shot from the right side was true off an assist from Giovanni Montesdeoca.
Carolina visits UNCW on Friday at 7 p.m.
Pieters was active early in the final third for the Tar Heels. A brilliant move by the Oswego, Illinois, native ended up with Pieters getting dragged down inside the box to draw a penalty.
From the spot, senior captain David October converted his second penalty in as many games to give Carolina an early lead in the eighth minute.
Carolina (2-0) waisted little time in adding to its goal total in the 10th minute. From a restart, Cam Lindley found Jeremy Kelly sprinting down the right side and he rang a shot off the cross bar and into the back of the net.
Rutgers (0-2) cut its deficit in half with an own goal in the 17th minute. With Tar Heel keeper James Pyle attempting to cut off the angle of a Rutgers player on the right side, a cross wound up deflecting off a Carolina defender and over the goal line.
Carolina got that goal back in the 30th minute to go ahead 3-1. Freshman Alex Rose, a local product in his backyard of Cary, opened his goal-scoring account when he banged in a deflection off an initial blast from classmate John Nelson.
Pieters scored his second goal of the opening weekend with a header in the 51st minute to make it 4-1 in favor of the Tar Heels. Wright started the play by juking a pair of Scarlet Knight defenders, then laid the ball off to Lindley, who played a perfect cross into a dangerous area that Pieters pounced on for the goal.
It wound up a brace for Pieters when he tapped home his second of the night in the 61st minute with Wright and Drew Murphy earning assists on the goal.
Andy Lopez put a cap on the scoring festivities with a goal in the 85th minute. His curling shot from the right side was true off an assist from Giovanni Montesdeoca.
Carolina visits UNCW on Friday at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
RU
NC
Goals
1
6
Shots
5
19
Shots on Goal
4
13
Saves
7
3
Corners
1
6
Fouls
11
8
Scoring Plays

David October (2)
NC David October PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 2 for season.
7:51

Jeremy Kelly (1)
Assisted By: Cam Lindley
ASSIST OFF FREE KICK, KICK OFF CROSS BAR
9:57

TEAM
PINEDA FROM THE TAR HEELS, KNOCKED INTO
16:22

Alex Rose (1)
Assisted By: John Nelson , Jelani Pieters
GOAL OFF DEFLECTION/SAVE FROM GOALIE
29:50

Jelani Pieters (2)
Assisted By: Cam Lindley , Zach Wright
FLICK TO RIGHT FIELD, CROSS AND HEADED I
50:09

Jelani Pieters (3)
Assisted By: Zach Wright , Drew Murphy
PASS TO SIX YARD BOX, TAP ACROSS, TAP IN
60:31

Andy Lopez (1)
Assisted By: Giovanni Montesdeoca
LOFTED OVER THE GOALIE INTO BACK LEFT
84:53
Game Leaders
Players
Players Mentioned
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