UNC Men’s Soccer: Tar Heels advance to 2017 College Cup
North Carolina wins, advances to 2017 College Cup
The North Carolina men’s soccer team is on its way to the 2017 College Cup after securing a 2-1 victory over Fordham on Saturday night.
The Tar Heels will appear in the College Cup for the second consecutive season and sixth time in the last 10 years. North Carolina’s six trips to the College Cup since 2008 are more than any other program in the nation.
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Senior forward Zack Wright got the Tar Heels on the board in the game’s 61st minute with a blast that hit the far post before sailing into the goal and to the back of the net. The goal was Wright’s fourth of the season.
Fordham answered right back, scoring a goal less than 90 seconds later off the foot of Jannik Loebe. Loebe was awarded a free kick from 20 yards out and capitalized on it, tying the game at one goal a piece.
In the 79th minute, senior midfielder Cam Lindley found Wright, who beat his defender and crossed the ball over to senior forward Alex Winn. Winn headed the ball in from six yards out for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.
Lindley picked up his 13th assist of the season, tops on the team and most for a Tar Heel over the last 15 years.
The Tar Heels would hold on in game’s closing minutes, capturing their 17 win of the season.
North Carolina will face off against the Indiana Hoosiers in the national semifinals on Friday night at Talon Energy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Tar Heels hold a 4-3 edge over the Hoosiers historically, but lost in the teams’ most recent matchup in the quarterfinals of the 2012 NCAA Championship.
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The Tar Heels’ 23 NCAA Tournament victories are more than any other program in the nation over the last 10 years. They’ve also made more appearances in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 during that span.