University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Syracuse
Syracuse Advances Past Carolina In ACC Quarters
November 8, 2015 | Men's Soccer
Ranked third in the country, North Carolina (14-1-3) received a second-half goal from Tucker Hume to knot the match at 1-1. The score remained tied after 110 minutes heading into penalty kicks to decide the match.
Through the customary five rounds of penalties it was still tied 3-3. Liam Callahan shot first for Syracuse and he converted in sudden death to make it 4-3. Left to Warren Marshall to extend to a seventh round, the junior took a good rip at the ball, but it went just high to propel Syracuse into the semifinals against Clemson.
Syracuse (11-5-3), beat NC State 2-0 to advance to today's quarterfinals as the No. 7 seed. The Orange visits the third-seeded Tigers on Wednesday.
Just like the regular season match between the two clubs, the Orange scored first. Callahan's attempted cross deflected off UNC's Jonathan Campbell inside the box, and the ball snuck past goalie James Pyle in the 25th minute.
Carolina earned its first look of the second half with a great pass from Omar Holness to Zach Wright in the 55th minute, but the shot was deflected and saved by Orange keeper Hendrick Hilpert . Another possession followed with a header from Carolina's Andy Lopez that bounced off the top of the net.
Hume found the equalizer in the 60th minute after a throw-in from Jordan McCrary. Hume collected the pass and found some breathing room in the middle of the field, and unleashed an unassisted rocket that accounted for his ACC-leading 10th goal of the season.
A close call in the 69th minute as Chris Nanco ripped a shot at Pyle, but the redshirt freshman punched the ball straight in the air. Two Syracuse players were in the box ready to push the Orange ahead, but a highlight-worthy header from McCrary saved the day for the Tar Heels.
Hume had another strong look at goal from the same distance as his first in the 71st minute, but Hilpert came up with a heads-up save.
A free kick in the 79th minute for Holness just about sealed the game for the Tar Heels. Syracuse was whistled for a hand ball just a yard outside the 18. The Jamaican national ripped a shot that appeared destined for the lower corner, but Hilpert denied Holness for one of his four saves on the afternoon.
Carolina controlled the pace to start the first overtime possession, topped off with a free kick from Holness in the 97th minute after an inadvertent handball from the Orange but nothing came of it for the Tar Heels.
After two overtimes, both Hilpert and Pyle faced the first shootouts of their college careers. Syracuse was chosen to go first.
Julian Buescher was first up, but Pyle was able to punch the shot away to deny a goal. Raby George calmly made the first for Carolina, giving the Tar Heels the 1-0 advantage.
Oyvind Alseth made the next to tie it at one apiece, but a rocket from October put the Tar Heels back on top at 2-1. Oscar Sewerin and Chris Nanco converted back-to-back shots, while Carolina saw shots from Alex Olfoson and Campbell sail high, giving the Orange a 3-2 advantage.
Syracuse's Noah Rhynhart had the chance to win it for the Orange, but a great save from Pyle kept it at 3-2. Hume was the man to keep Carolina in the match, and his goal pushed it to 3-3, extending the penalty kicks, before Callahan later sealed it for the visitors in the sixth round.
The Tar Heels will wait to find out their bid in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, Nov. 16.
