Pineda and Pieters Score As Tar Heels Blank UNCW, 2-0

Tuesday, October 1

Chapel Hill

7 p.m.

North Carolina

5-2-2

UNCW

4-4-1

UNCW

UNC

Jelani Pieters
University of North Carolina Men's Soccer v Notre Dame
UNC Soccer Stadium
Chapel Hill, NC
Friday, September 20, 2019

October 1, 2019 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Overall Stats Box Score

By: T.J. Scholl

CHAPEL HILL - In a Tuesday night showdown, No. 20 North Carolina topped UNCW 2-0 on Dorrance Field at the UNC Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium to improve to 5-3-1 on the 2019 season. Seniors Mauricio Pineda and Jelani Pieters led the way offensively for the Tar Heels with goals in the 13th and 50th minutes while the defense pitched its fifth shutout.

In a battle-tested first half, the Tar Heels struck first in the 13th minute of the contest to take the early 1-0 lead. Pieters challenged a Seahawk defender on the left side of the pitch, he gained a step on the opponent and subsequently drew a foul as he entered the box. Captain Mauricio Pineda was trusted to take the ensuing penalty kick as he buried in to the bottom left corner past the diving keeper for his third goal of the season.

The Tar Heels' next best opportunity to score in the first half came in the 31st minute, when Pieters drew another foul, this time just outside of the box and on the left side of the pitch. As it ricocheted between the Seahawks' defenders, senior Jack Skahan's well-placed ball almost earned him his third goal of the season. The Tar Heels held the edge on the shots 6-4 as the Heels entered the half time break with a 1-0 lead.

An inspired Carolina squad took to the pitch in the second half and quickly found their second goal of the night. In the 50th minute of the contest, Pieters crafted a beautiful strike that found the right side of the net, which marked his fourth goal of the season. A textbook play by the veteran forward as he took on two defenders, cut to his right foot and curled the ball to the back post.

Tallying 10 shots total in the match, the Tar Heels nearly recorded a third goal in the 77th when Martin Salas fired a volley that looked destined for the back of the net defore it defelected off a Seahawk defender and out of bounds for a corner kick.

The Seahawks did not relinquish the game without a fight, in the closing ten minutes, strikes by Michael Morell and Gabriel Cabral nearly found the back of the net. However, two great saves by Carolina keeper, Alec Smir, rendered UNCW scoreless. The Tar Heels record now sit at 5-2-2 and will return to action Friday against the Pitt Panthers in Pittsburgh in an ACC showdown.