#2 North Carolina edged #3 Virginia, 1-0, in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s soccer action Friday night at Klöckner Stadium. Kirk Urso scored the game-winning goal for the Tar Heels in the 59th minute as UNC remained unbeaten in conference play (6-2 overall, 4-0 ACC).
With the loss, Virginia’s record went to 6-2-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the ACC.
“I told the team before the game that it would come down to inches,” UVa head coach George Gelnovatch said. “And it literally did. These are two good teams that played very hard tonight.”
North Carolina’s goal was scored on a corner kick in the 59th minute. After a short corner to Michael Farfan, the Tar Heel forward passed it back to Urso on the left side of the field. Urso bent a ball to the near post that was unable to be cleared by the UVa defense.
It was Urso’s second goal of the season and Farfan’s second assist.
The goal gave North Carolina its first win in Charlottesville since Oct. 11, 1977. Since that 1-0 UNC win, Virginia was unbeaten in 16-consecutive matches against the Tar Heels at home (15-0-1).
Virginia goalkeeper Diego Restrepo (West Palm Beach, Fla.) finished with five saves, including two from point-blank range in the 82nd minute.
Looking for the equalizer down the stretch, Virginia was unable to convert on shots by Ari Dimas (Chesapeake, Va.) and Ahkeel Rodney (Elmont, N.Y.).
Virginia’s last chance came on a free kick with 30 seconds remaining in the match. Sean Murnane (Centreville, Va.) lofted a ball into the penalty box, but Rodney’s header sailed high and wide.
Brian Ownby (Glen Allen, Va.) had some of the Cavaliers’ best scoring chances but just one of his four shots was on goal.
North Carolina goalkeeper Scott Goodwin posted the shutout with two saves.
North Carolina out-shot Virginia, 15-11, while the Cavaliers held an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Up next, the Cavaliers host Liberty on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m., followed by Alabama A&M (Oct. 9), James Madison (Oct. 12) and Virginia Tech (Oct. 15).
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Chris Graham
