College Cup, Here We Come! Men's Soccer Downs Wake, 2-1

Monday, May 10

Cary, N.C.

5 PM

North Carolina

9-4-4, 7-2-3

Wake Forest (Quarterfinal)

13-3-2, 8-1-2

North Carolina

Wake Forest

Photo by: Dana Gentry

May 10, 2021 | Men's Soccer

Box Score College Cup Tickets Final Stats (.pdf)Bracket

CARY, N.C.—Santiago Herrera scored in the 68th minute to cap a comeback win as unseeded North Carolina topped No. 5 seed Wake Forest, 2-1, in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals on Monday night at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The Tar Heels advanced to their ninth appearance in the NCAA College Cup, including their seventh in the last 13 years and their fourth under head coach Carlos Somoano (2011, 2016, 2017, 2020).

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 berths (nine) and College Cup trips (seven).

UNC overcame an early Wake Forest lead and came from behind to win. Wake's Kyle Holcomb scored on a rebound in the 10th minute to give the Demon Deacons a 1-0 lead. After Wake's Jake Swallen shot and Tar Heel goalie Alec Smir made the save, Holcomb tapped in the rebound for a 1-0 WFU lead.

Just 32 seconds later, UNC's Giovanni Montesdeoca tied the score with a goal at the 9:37 mark, reclaiming the momentum for the Tar Heels and evening the score at 1-all.

After a long scoreless stretch that included a delay for lightning and heavy rain, Herrera was in the right place at the right time and was able to score the game-winner on a loose ball after a set play at the 67:17 mark, putting the Tar Heels ahead for good, 2-1.

"Fortunately, the ball from Milo [Garvanian] got through the wall and got to me," Herrera said. "I just tried to get my shot off as quickly as I could, and it went in. It's an unbelievable feeling right now. We just want to recover and get back to work tomorrow. We didn't sign up just for the College Cup, we want the trophy. We're happy right now, but tomorrow we're back to work."

UNC ended Wake Forest's unbeaten streak at eight matches. Carolina improved to 4-0 all-time in NCAA Tournament play against the Demon Deacons. Earlier this season in the Fall, WFU beat the Tar Heels in overtime in Winston-Salem.

"You can't have confidence if you don't work every single day," UNC head coach Carlos Somoano said after the win. "You put in the effort in training, and then you believe in yourself. Like in anything else in life, if you put in the work, you believe you're capable.

"We've put in a lot of work, and we believe we're capable. Our goal is to go play on Monday [in the NCAA championship game]. We believe that's possible. Why not? We're here, we've put in the work. We're as capable as anybody else left playing."