University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Louisville
Carolina Clinches Coastal Division
October 23, 2015 | Men's Soccer
North Carolina (13-1-1, 6-1-0 ACC) fell behind early in the second half, but received goals from Tucker Hume and Andy Lopez to earn the come-from-behind victory over the Cardinals.
Louisville (6-7-3, 1-3-3) took control early in the second half earning three straight corners after playing a sluggish opening 45 minutes that saw them not register a single shot.
The pressure culminated with the Cardinals taking the lead in the 55th minute with a rocket from Daniel Johnson. A series of passes from Tate Schmitt and Jon Zabasajja found Johnson in the box to give Louisville the 1-0 advantage. The goal was Johnson's fifth of the season.
Hume was inserted into the lineup in the 63rd minute and that decision paid off immediately when he headed in a long throw-in from Jordan McCrary just 31 seconds after re-entering the match to knot the match at 1-1. The goal was Hume's team-leading eighth of the season.
Schmitt, UofL's top scorer, hit the post in the 75th minute looking to regain the lead for the visiting Cardinals.
As the match moved into the final stages of regulation, the Tar Heels earned another throw-in and called on McCrary once again. His toss ricochet off the head of Jonathan Campbell and Lopez swooped in with his own header to give Carolina the lead in the 83rd minute.
Sam Euler made one save on the evening, and it was a clutch stop in the 89th minute off the foot of Schmitt to secure the Tar Heel victory.
With the win, North Carolina is guaranteed at least the No. 1 or 2 seed in the ACC Championship, which will be played on campus sites throughout.
Carolina hosts Senior Night on Tuesday against Northeastern (2-9-2, 1-5-0 CAA) at 7 p.m.
