Smir Leads Men’s Soccer Into Second Round With Shootout Victory

Thursday, November 18

Chapel Hill

6 PM

North Carolina

11-6-2, 4-4-0

Loyola (First Round)

10-6-4, 7-2-0

Loyola Maryland

North Carolina

Celebration

Photo by: Jerome M. Ibrahim

Smir Leads Men’s Soccer Into Second Round With Shootout Victory

November 18, 2021 | Men's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS (.PDF)Photo Gallery

“We’re Not Going to Win That Game Without Him” – Head Coach Carlos Somoano

CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina and Loyola Maryland competed in a close, scoreless game that went the distance through 110 minutes on Thursday night. The game was decided in a penalty kick shootout with UNC coming out victorious, 4-2.

The 0-0 draw through regulation and two overtime periods pushes Carolina's record to 11-6-2 (4-4 ACC) and Loyola Maryland's record to 10-6-4 (7-2 Patriot).

Carolina was ranked No. 23 by United Soccer Coaches, No. 22 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll, and No. 24 by the College Soccer News poll this week after falling to Clemson in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championships.

Despite an aggressive start in the first half in which the Tar Heels were able to outshoot Loyola Maryland 7-1, both teams remained scoreless at the end of the first 45 minutes.

Loyola Maryland had three close chances in the second half, but two saves by Alec Smir and a block from Filippo Zattarin kept the score notched at 0 with 20 minutes remaining.

North Carolina did not record a shot through the second half, but allowed Loyola Maryland to tally three, two of which were on goal.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net through regulation and both overtimes, forcing the game to be decided in a penalty kick shootout.

Loyola Maryland took the first attempt, but Smir was able to make the stop. Santiago Herrera took the first penalty kick attempt for the Tar Heels and was successful, putting UNC up 1-0.

Smir was able to stop the second penalty kick attempt by Loyola Maryland. This stop was followed by a successful attempt by UNC's Alex Rose, putting the Tar Heels up 2-0.

Loyola Maryland tallied two successful attempts, but UNC's own successful penalty kicks by Milo Garvanian and Zattarin were enough to secure the victory for the Tar Heels.

Alec Smir recorded three saves through regulation and overtime play and stopped two of four penalty kicks to give the Tar Heels a 4-2 advantage in penalty kicks.

"You can never keep such a defensive record without an amazing goalkeeper," said Zattarin on the Tar Heels' 6^th in the nation shutout percentage (.556). "Knowing he's there helps you to do your own job as a defender, and helps the whole team play better."

North Carolina moves on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on penalty kicks and will compete against 16-seed University of New Hampshire on Sunday, November 21 at 2 p.m.

"The win feels great right now, but we need to shift our focus to New Hampshire," said Smir.

Notes:
• Tega Ikoba leads the team with six goals on the season. Cameron Fisher is close behind with five.
• North Carolina did not record a shot following the first half until the second overtime period
• This was only the fourth competition between UNC and Loyola Maryland, bringing their record to 2-1-1 all-time.
• UNC is 11-6-2 this season and has out-shot its opponents by a margin of 283-106 through eighteen games.
• Tar Heels in the National Polls: Carolina is ranked No. 23 by United Soccer Coaches poll, No. 22 by the Top Drawer Soccer poll, and No. 24 by College Soccer News this week.