University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, October 2
Durham, N.C.
7 PM
North Carolina
2
at
0
Duke
Carolina celebrates the second-half goal that iced the win.
Photo by: Reagan Lunn/Duke Athletics
Men's Soccer Blanks Duke, 2-0
October 2, 2020 | Men's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C.—North Carolina wasted no time in striking early and got strong play in goal from junior Alec Smir as the Tar Heels beat Duke, 2-0, on Friday night in ACC men's soccer action at Koskinen Stadium.
UNC recorded four shots on goal on the night, two of which found the back of the net. Both of the goals came on set plays. Matt Constant scored on a header off a free kick in the first half from Milo Garvanian, and Santiago Herrera scored on a free kick in the second half. Duke out-shot Carolina on the night overall, 9-6, but the Tar Heels had four on-goal to Duke's three.
Smir posted a strong effort, saving all three of Duke's shots on goal, including a punch save on a short range shot in the second half to preserve a 1-0 lead. Smir posted five shutouts in 2019 to tie for seventh in the ACC, and he posted another shutout in his first effort of 2020.
With the win, Carolina improved to 1-0 this season, 1-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Duke dropped to 1-2, 1-1.
Carolina grabbed a quick lead in the fourth minute of the game on a beautiful set play off a free kick. Garvanian guided a left-footed free kick perfectly into the box to a diving Constant, who headed it into the lower left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
After that quick highlight on Carolina's first free kick of the day, the two teams held each other scoreless the rest of the first half.
In the second half, Smir made a crucial punch save with just under 20 minutes to play on a dangerous Duke opportunity off a corner kick.
Herrera added his insurance goal minutes later off another Tar Heel set piece, as his free kick deflected off the wall of Duke defensive players and redirected into the right corner of the net.
Carolina will return to action next Friday in its home opener against Clemson at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill.
For all the latest news on Carolina men's soccer, follow the Tar Heels on Twitter or Instagram.
Gallery: (10-2-2020) Men's Soccer Wins, 2-0, at Duke
UNC recorded four shots on goal on the night, two of which found the back of the net. Both of the goals came on set plays. Matt Constant scored on a header off a free kick in the first half from Milo Garvanian, and Santiago Herrera scored on a free kick in the second half. Duke out-shot Carolina on the night overall, 9-6, but the Tar Heels had four on-goal to Duke's three.
Smir posted a strong effort, saving all three of Duke's shots on goal, including a punch save on a short range shot in the second half to preserve a 1-0 lead. Smir posted five shutouts in 2019 to tie for seventh in the ACC, and he posted another shutout in his first effort of 2020.
With the win, Carolina improved to 1-0 this season, 1-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Duke dropped to 1-2, 1-1.
Carolina grabbed a quick lead in the fourth minute of the game on a beautiful set play off a free kick. Garvanian guided a left-footed free kick perfectly into the box to a diving Constant, who headed it into the lower left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
After that quick highlight on Carolina's first free kick of the day, the two teams held each other scoreless the rest of the first half.
In the second half, Smir made a crucial punch save with just under 20 minutes to play on a dangerous Duke opportunity off a corner kick.
Herrera added his insurance goal minutes later off another Tar Heel set piece, as his free kick deflected off the wall of Duke defensive players and redirected into the right corner of the net.
Carolina will return to action next Friday in its home opener against Clemson at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill.
For all the latest news on Carolina men's soccer, follow the Tar Heels on Twitter or Instagram.
A Tar Heel victory to start the season! Carolina wins, 2-0, at Duke behind a strong performance by Alec Smir.#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/NSftHYsXG7
— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) October 3, 2020
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