Skahan and Herrera lead No. 20 UNC Past Pitt, 2-1

Friday, October 4

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7 p.m.

North Carolina

Pittsburgh

October 4, 2019 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Season Stats Box Score

By: T.J. Scholl

Pittsburgh, Pa. – Goals from Jack Skahan and Santiago Herrera propelled No. 20 North Carolina past Pittsburgh, 2-1, on Friday evening in Pittsburgh, Pa. Skahan scored with one second left on the clock in the first half for the halftime lead before Herrera scored in the 72^nd minute for the added insurance goal to help the Heels improve to 7-0-0 all-time against Pittsburgh.

The first 44 minutes were quiet for both sides as the Heels led the Panthers 4-2 in total shots and 1-0 in shots on goal. In the 34^th minute, the Heels had its first real chance of the half. Mauricio Pineda played a perfectly weighted ball through the defense to a streaking Skahan, but the senior forward couldn't beat the Pittsburgh goalkeeper near post as the shot struck the side of the net.

As time was winding down in the first half, Jelani Pieters was fouled with his back to goal in a dangerous free kick position for the Heels. With 10 seconds left, the Heels scrambled to get the ball before Skahan fired a free kick from 25 yards out that curled over the wall and found the back of the net with one second left to give the Heels a 1-0 lead at the break. The Pittsburgh goalkeeper and defense seemed stunned as the goal went to review and was upheld by the officials.

Skahan picked up where he left off in the first half as he almost doubled the lead in the 50^th minute. After a cross in to the box from Milo Garvanian, Skahan found the ball at his feet, pushed it past a defender and fired a shot with his left foot but it sailed wide of the post.

The Tar Heels doubled their lead in the 72^nd minute thanks to a Herrera header to make it 2-1. Martin Salas whipped in a perfect ball from the left side of the field as Santiago Herrera sprinted in to the box and soared over his defender to beat the keeper near post.

As it looked like Carolina would hold on to the 2-0 victory, the Panthers scored in the 87^th minute to make it 2-1. After Jonathan Jimenez almost scored on one side of the field, the Panthers executed a clinical counter attack to cut the lead in half. Pitt raced down the field and fired a shot from the left side of the box that Smir punched away, but Nyk Sessock volleyed the save out of midair for his first goal of the season.

Pitt applied the pressure over the last few minutes, but the Tar Heels cleared away the danger as they took home the 2-1 win to move to 6-2-2 on the season and 3-1 in ACC play.