Men's Soccer Continuing Long Elite Run As Alumni Weekend Nears

When the University of North Carolina men's soccer team made what many considered to be an unexpected trip to the NCAA College Cup in 2020, some national observers considered it something of a classic underdog story, like an overachieving upstart putting things together as a team at the right time.

But to seasoned observers of the collegiate soccer scene, it was much less of a surprise to see the unseeded, at-large-bid Tar Heels upset the No. 4 and No. 5 overall seeds on their way to reaching the national semifinals in nearby Cary, N.C.

In fact, one could argue Carolina has been perhaps the nation's best performer in the NCAA Tournament in the last decade-plus, especially under the tutelage of Carlos Somoano, who entered the 2021 season with the nation's second-highest winning percentage among active head coaches.

In the last 13 NCAA Tournaments (2008-20), Carolina leads all NCAA Division I programs in NCAA Tournament wins (26), Sweet 16 appearances (10), quarterfinal appearances (nine) and College Cup berths (seven).

So even though Carolina went 7-4-3 entering the NCAA Tournament and lost its ACC Tournament opener at home to a lower-seeded foe, UNC made its run behind a veteran core of players, convinced by one of the nation's top coaches that it could win a national title, no matter what.

It was just the latest example of elite success by an elite Tar Heel program achieving at a high level, just like it has for two decades.

This week, the Carolina Soccer family will gather for its annual alumni weekend, centered around Friday's senior day home finale versus Notre Dame (buy tickets). Alumni gatherings are always special, but this one is even more so.

During this sure to be memorable weekend, the Tar Heels will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2001 NCAA title and the 10th anniversary of the 2011 NCAA title. Members of both national championship squads will be on hand to be recognized at halftime of Friday's game in Dorrance Field.

In many ways, the two decades of Carolina excellence on the national soccer scene began with the 2001 national champs, continued with four consecutive College Cups culminating in the 2011 NCAA title and continue to this day.

An Elite Program
Need evidence that UNC is among the nation's most dominant men's soccer programs? Consider the following.

• In 2020, Carolina made its 27th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its 20th in the last 22 years.
• In the last 13 NCAA Tournaments (2008-20), Carolina leads all NCAA Division I programs in NCAA Tournament wins (26), Sweet 16 appearances (10), quarterfinal appearances (nine) and College Cup berths (seven).
• The Tar Heels are 42-22-9 (.637) all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• UNC has reached the NCAA College Cup nine times (1987, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2020).
• Those nine College Cup berths include four under Somoano (2011, 2016, 2017, 2020) and three in the last five tournaments (2016, 2017, 2020).
• UNC has played in the national title game three times in the last 20 years (2001, 2008, 2011) with a 2-1 record in those contests.
• Somoano guided Carolina to the NCAA championship in 2011 in his first season as the UNC head coach.

2001 NCAA Champions
The 2001 Tar Heels, led by longtime head coach Elmar Bolowich, notched their first national title in their first appearance in a national title game. After a rousing, late-game comeback win over Stanford in four overtimes to reach the final, the Tar Heels faced and defeated five-time champion Indiana, which entered the tournament having given up just six goals all season.

The Tar Heels used an early goal on a header by junior Ryan Kneipper to grab a 1-0 lead. The 6-5 Kneipper beat an Indiana defender and the IU goalkeeper to a long cross from Matt Crawford and headed it just inside the right post from six yards away.

The Tar Heels then turned to their defense, led by senior captains Danny Jackson and Chris Leitch, senior goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey and sophomore David Stokes, who was assigned to Indiana all-everything player Pat Noonan for most of the game. IU put pressure on the Heels but couldn't find a way to even the score against the stalwart Carolina defense.

At the 75-minute mark, freshman Marcus Storey drew a foul in the box, leading to a penalty kick by Jackson into the top left of the net, giving Carolina a 2-0 lead and its first-ever national title.

2011 NCAA Champions
The 2011 season saw the Tar Heels reach the College Cup for a fourth consecutive year and finally knock down the door to claim the second national championship in school history. Billy Schuler led the Tar Heels with an overtime winner against Indiana in the third round, then the Tar Heels downed Saint Mary's, 2-0, in the quarterfinals to earn a trip to Hoover, Ala., for the College Cup.

The Tar Heels fell in an early 1-0 hole but scored a pair of goals in the second half to force overtime and an eventual penalty shootout the Tar Heels won, 3-1. Ben Speas scored in the championship game as Carolina downed Charlotte to claim the 2011 national championship.

Somoano became just the second coach in NCAA history to claim a national title in his first year.

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Men's Soccer Continuing Long Elite Run As Alumni Weekend Nears

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