The University of North Carolina men’s soccer team took care of business Wednesday night, beating West Florida 2-0 on Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium.
Carolina got on top before halftime, then put the match away early in the second half. Faraji Ramani scored his first collegiate goal in the 33rd minute, and Joschi Schelb added the insurance tally in the 59th to finish off a professional night for the Tar Heels.
West Florida came out quickly, but UNC settled in and controlled the game from there. The Tar Heels finished with a 17-7 edge in shots and put seven attempts on frame to the Argonauts’ two. Carolina also earned 10 corner kicks, while West Florida had none.
Ramani’s goal came after Schelb won a loose ball, drove into the box and slid it across for the finish. The play gave Carolina a 1-0 lead and marked the first goal of Ramani’s career.
Schelb struck again in the 59th minute, this time finishing off a cross from Luca Nikolai. The chance was set up by a sharp ball into the area, and Schelb buried it in the bottom right corner to make it 2-0. It was Schelb’s seventh goal of the season and his fourth straight match with a goal.
UNC had a few other looks along the way. Bertil Rygaard Hansen worked his way past a defender in the 12th minute, but his shot missed wide.
Seven minutes later, he found Schelb in front, only to see the attempt blocked. Luca Nikolai had two chances from the top of the box in the 28th minute, but both were denied.
Evans Dapaah also got in behind the back line in the 51st minute and tried to chip the goalkeeper, who made the stop.
The result moves North Carolina to 4-2-3 on the season. West Florida, in its first year at the Division I level, falls to 2-6-1.
For the Tar Heels, Ramani’s goal was the first of his career. Schelb now has seven goals on the season and 27 for his career, while his assist Wednesday was his first of the year and the 20th of his career. Nikolai’s assist was his second this season and the 15th of his career.
After five straight home matches, North Carolina heads to Boston College next. The Tar Heels will face the Eagles in Newton, Mass. at Newton Campus Field on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3 p.m.
In Other News...
UNC Just Got A Veteran Guard Boost Fans Didnt See Coming
Angelo Brizzis move to Chapel Hill gives North Carolina another experienced guard at a time when roster depth and backcourt stability matter as much as ever. The veteran has already logged time at Villanova, Davidson, Longwood and Buffalo, and the NCAA has approved a waiver that clears him to play one more college season. Now he arrives at UNC with the kind of well-traveled background that can help a new-look team settle in quickly under first-year head coach Michael Malone.
For the Tar Heels, Brizzis addition is less about splash than about fit, because a player who has seen that many programs usually brings a sense of pace, adaptability and perspective. His final college stop gives North Carolina another layer of insurance and another voice in a guard group that will need to absorb Malones system fast. The bigger question now is how that experience translates once the games begin and where Brizzi fits in a rotation that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Lost Momentum In A Crucial Five Star Battle
Jordan Pages recruitment has reached a pivotal stretch, and North Carolina just felt the ground shift a little. The five-star guard recently visited Chapel Hill and also took a trip to UConn, giving both programs a chance to make their case as his process moves toward a final decision. For the Tar Heels, landing a player of Pages caliber would be a major boost, especially in a battle that has drawn plenty of attention on the national recruiting trail.
The latest buzz, though, has tilted away from UNC. Travis Branham of 247Sports put in a Crystal Ball prediction for UConn, a sign that the Huskies may have the inside track even as both schools stay actively involved. Recruiting decisions can still turn quickly, but for North Carolina, this is the kind of update that makes the final stages of a five-star chase feel a lot more urgent. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Must Fix One Passing Problem To Threaten Notre Dame
North Carolinas passing game has had trouble stretching the field this season, and that has become a clear concern as the Tar Heels prepare for Notre Dame. Billy Edwards Jr. has not found much consistency on throws beyond 10 yards, leaving the offense short on the kind of explosive plays that can change a game against a tougher opponent.
Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino have both stressed the need for sharper execution and better design to help create those opportunities. The Tar Heels are also hopeful to get receiver C.J. Sadler back in the mix, a potential boost since he has already caught the longest pass of the season and could give the passing attack a needed jolt at just the right time. [Read more 🡒]