GoHeels Exclusive: Winn's will

CARY, N.C. – For a moment Wednesday night, however brief, senior forward Alan Winn said it felt like the North Carolina men's soccer team's match against William & Mary was slipping away.

The No. 8 Tar Heels led for a majority of the contest, pulling ahead 1-0 and later 2-1. But in the 69th minute, the Tribe tied the score at 2 on its second equalizing goal – a rocket off the foot of Antonio Bustamante.

Such goals can be demoralizing, at least initially, said Winn. But you must not waver.

"Even if it's 1-0 or 2-0, you always have that mentality that it's tied or you're down, that way you have that hunger and that fight," Winn said. "That's what I felt right after they scored."

And it's that feeling that ultimately led UNC to a 3-2 victory at WakeMed Soccer Park, as Winn scored his second goal of the game moments later to help his team improve to 5-1 on the season.

Winn's brace came in his third match back from an injury that sidelined him for the Tar Heels' first three games. He's registered three goals since returning, making him the team's second-leading scorer behind Jelani Pieters (four goals in six matches).

"He has so much energy up there, and he leads the front line really well," said Alex Comsia of Winn. "Obviously, he's very fast. He's so competitive, and his willingness to win is great for us. It's essential to have him back."

And it didn't take long for Winn to show why Wednesday.

Just three minutes, 13 seconds into the match, Winn used his speed to track down a long pass over William & Mary's back line and evade the charging goalkeeper. He then deftly placed the ball in the back of the net, giving UNC a 1-0 lead.

Winn tallied two more shots in the first half, with his final one setting up the corner kick that Giovanni Montesdeoca punched in to break a 1-1 tie in the 41st minute. But Bustamante evened the score again about midway through the second half. Then came Winn's heroics.

The Tar Heels drew a free kick after Bustamante received a yellow card. Cam Lindley delivered the ball inside the box, where Mauricio Pineda found Winn for the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute.

"It was a mentality of staying focused and realizing my job and doing my job," Winn said. "And when the ball didn't come to me, I kept moving and pulled around the back. Mauricio made a nice header across and I had the opportunity for goal and executed."

Such chances weren't available to Winn two weeks ago as he watched games from the UNC bench because of his injury. It proved to be trying, especially as a senior. But he didn't waver.

Now he said he's reaping the benefits of what he learned during that stretch.

"I got to see players when they were out of position," Winn said, "and I got to be like, 'Hey, get it there. Get in that position.' It definitely gave me a better perspective. And when I got on the field, it made the game a lot easier."

Players Mentioned

Alex Comsia

Cam Lindley

Giovanni Montesdeoca

Jelani Pieters

Mauricio Pineda

Alan Winn

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