Men's Soccer Set To Open Home Slate With Clemson

Friday, October 9

Chapel Hill

6 PM

North Carolina

Clemson

October 7, 2020 | Men's Soccer

Watch Live Stats 2020 UNC Record Book UNC Game Notes Clemson Game Notes

Opponent: Clemson (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Friday Oct. 9, 2020
Site: Chapel Hill (Dorrance Field)
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: ESPNU (watch here)
Live Stats: Click here
Game Notes: UNC | Clemson

• Carolina (1-0, 1-0 ACC) will open its 2020 men's soccer home schedule on Friday October 9 when it hosts third-ranked Clemson (2-0, 0-0) at Dorrance Field. Opening kick is scheduled for just after 6:00 p.m.
• These two teams originally were scheduled to kick off the 2020 season against each other in Clemson two weeks ago on Sept. 25, but that game was postponed. The Tar Heels and Tigers now will meet in Clemson on Tuesday Oct. 27.
• UNC won its season opener last weekend, 2-0, at Duke on Oct. 2.
• Clemson is coming off a 2-0 home win over UAB on Monday night. The Tigers are ranked No. 3 in the nation in this week's United Soccer Coaches poll.
• Friday's game will be televised live by ESPNU.

Series History Vs. Clemson
• The all-time series between North Carolina and Clemson is tied, 27-27-8.
• These two teams didn't play each other last season. In the most recent meeting, the Tar Heels beat the Tigers, 2-0, in a UNC home game played in Cary, N.C., on Sept. 28, 2018.

Smir Earns ACC & National Weekly Honors
• Junior goalkeeper Alec Smir earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 5 after his strong performance at Duke.
• A day later, the United Soccer Coaches oaches named Smir the organization's national Player of the Week.
• Smir helped UNC open its season on a high note on Friday with a 2-0 win at Duke. The Greensboro native recorded his 10th career shutout and his eighth in his last 19 games started. Smir saved all three Duke shots on goal in 90 minutes played. He also controlled the action from the back throughout the night, directing the Tar Heel defense and intercepting multiple crossing passes to lead the UNC to the road win.
• Smir started all 18 games for the Tar Heels in 2019, ranking fourth in the ACC in goals against per game (1.06) and tying for seventh in the ACC in shutouts (five).

Shutout Win At Duke, 2-0
• 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 Oct. 2 in Durham, N.C.
• 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.

Exhibition Win Over NCSU
• Giovanni Montesdeoca scored the game's only goal in the 58th minute as Carolina defeated North Carolina State, 1-0, on Sept. 20 in a scrimmage at Dorrance Field.
• The two teams felt each other out and played a scoreless first half. After a defensive miscue by the Wolfpack resulted in a failed clearing attempt, Tar Heel Jonathan Jimenez fed Montesdeoca in front of the box for a 1-0 Tar Heel advantage at the 57:45 mark.
• The Pack almost tied the score not long thereafter but missed a shot from point-blank range, hitting the crossbar and rebounding back into the field.
• Carolina out-shot NCSU by a 16-4 margin, including 8-1 in the first half, and held a 7-1 edge in corner kicks.