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UNC Men’s Soccer: Tar Heels top SMU, reach NCAA Elite Eight

By Blake Cockrum

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MARCH 30: A general view of the ground prior to the UEFA Women's Champions League Second Leg match between Slavia Praha and Lyon at The Eden Stadium on March 30, 2016 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MARCH 30: A general view of the ground prior to the UEFA Women's Champions League Second Leg match between Slavia Praha and Lyon at The Eden Stadium on March 30, 2016 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /
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Tar Heels continue march toward title game

The North Carolina men’s soccer team continued its winning ways on Saturday night, eliminating SMU in the round of 16 by a final score of 2-0.

The Tar Heels got on the board in the game’s 50th minute after Jack Skahan scored on a missed pass intended for Alan Winn. The low cross missed Winn and sailed into the back of the goal, giving North Carolina a 1-0 lead.

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Jelani Pieters put the game away with a goal in the 82nd minute, just one minute after he entered the game. After receiving a pass from sophomore midfielder Cam Lindley, Pieters drove past a group of SMU defenders before knocking in the Tar Heels’ second goal of the day.

Lindley’s assist on Pieters’ goal was his 12th of the season, the most ever by a North Carolina player under head coach Carlos Somoano.

It proved to be more than enough for the Tar Heels to come away with the victory, particularly since the only goal that the Mustangs scored was nullified due to an off sides penalty in the 83rd minute.

It’s the eighth time in the past 10 years that the Tar Heels have made it to the Elite 8, more than any other program during that span. Their five Final Four appearances since 2008 is also tops among NCAA Division I men’s soccer programs.

Despite their overall success and consistency over the past decade, they’ve won the College Cup just once during that time span. With their Sweet 16 victory on Saturday, though, combined with their recent dominance in the tournament, the Tar Heels appear poised to make another title run in 2017.

North Carolina will now prepare to face off against Fordham, who knocked off the No. 6-ranked Duke Blue Devils, in the quarterfinals next weekend.

Next: UNC football drops season finale to NC State

Stick with Keeping It Heel for complete coverage of the Tar Heels’ Elite 8 matchup with Fordham next weekend.

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