Vician’s Penalty Kick Lifts Men’s Soccer Over UAB

Thursday, August 22

Birmingham, Ala.

8 PM

North Carolina

1-0-0, 0-0-0

UAB

0-1-0, 0-0-0

North Carolina

UAB

Photo by: Michael Wade

August 22, 2024 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The sixth-ranked North Carolina men's soccer program (1-0-0) defeated UAB (0-1-0) Thursday night, 1-0, in the season opening match for both programs.

Martin Vician's penalty-kick in the 71st minute was the difference maker for the Tar Heels in Thursday night's non-conference affair.

How It Happened
• Neither team produced a shot attempt until the 24th minute, as goalkeeper Andrew Cordes was credited the save off a Blazer header.
• In the 30th, after a Carolina throw-in, Ahmad Al-Qaq mustered a shot attempt that sailed over the goal.
• Right before the end of the opening 45, Daniel Lugo forced a shot into the bottom right corner, halted by the UAB keeper.
• To begin the second half, Al-Qaq sent an attempt off the left foot above the crossbar.
• Following a Carolina foul, UAB's Lucas Rizzo's free kick in the 60th from just outside the box ended off target.
• Just a few minutes later, Al-Qaq broke free from his defender, forcing a shot attempt over the goal.
• In the 71st, after being taken down inside the box, Vician was able to send home his PK attempt in the bottom right corner.

Inside The Numbers
• Carolina leads the all-time series, 2-1-1.
• Thursday was the first meeting between the two programs since 2000.
• After Thursday's result, Carolina is 12-0-2 under Carlos Somoano in season openers.
• Matthew Acosta, Bertil Hansen, Luke Hille and Tate Johnson made their Carolina debuts.
• Acosta, Al-Qaq, Andrew Czech, Charlie Harper, Riley Thomas and Sam Williams played the full 90 in the field.
• Cordes made one first-half save in the victory.

Up Next
• Carolina returns to play this Sunday evening, hosting California Baptist in the home opener.
• Action from Dorrance Field is set for 7:30 PM, with the match airing live on ACCNX.
• Sunday's match is a Carolina Fever event for all UNC students, as the first 200 in attendance will receive a free pair of Carolina sunglasses.