North Carolina had the late punch it wanted Friday night, then saw it slip away just as fast.
The No. 15 Tar Heels went ahead in the 84th minute when Evans Dapaah scored his first goal as a Tar Heel on Senior Night, but NC State answered in the 89th to escape Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium with a 1-1 draw. The matchup stayed tight from start to finish, with both teams spending long stretches trading chances and possession.
UNC finishes the regular season at 8-2-5 overall and 3-1-4 in ACC play. NC State closes at 5-5-6 overall and 1-3-4 in the league. Carolina now waits for the rest of tonight’s ACC results to know where it lands in the standings before the ACC Tournament.
The first real opening came in the 28th minute, when Bertil Rygaard Hansen surged down the right side and squared a ball to Joschi Schelb, only for the chance to be cleared off the line. Neither side could break through before halftime, with both teams putting just one shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes. NC State held a 5-3 edge in shots at the break.
After halftime, the chances kept coming. Luca Nikolai sent in a cross in the 53rd minute that found Schelb at the back post, but the header sailed wide. Seven minutes later, NC State’s Aidan Payne tested Alan Rutkowski at the near post and forced a strong save.
Nikolai nearly delivered the breakthrough again in the 76th minute, ripping a shot from outside the box that took a deflection and nearly looped over the keeper before settling on top of the net. Eight minutes later, he finally set up the goal, slipping through the defense and feeding Dapaah for the finish and the 1-0 lead.
That advantage did not last. In the 89th minute, Payne found a loose ball in the box and buried it in the bottom corner to bring the Wolfpack level.
Carolina will find out its ACC Tournament path after tonight’s remaining matches are complete. If the Heels end up hosting a first-round game, it would be played Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
In Other News...
Belichick Brings Another Off-Field Distraction To North Carolina
Bill Belichicks arrival in Chapel Hill has already brought plenty of attention, and now theres another layer to the off-field conversation around North Carolina. According to sources close to Jordon Hudson, the two reportedly ended their relationship late last year, even though they have remained close friends and continued their business partnerships.
The pair has still been seen together publicly this year, which has only kept the spotlight on a relationship that drew notice in the first place because of their age difference. For the Tar Heels, it is another reminder that Belichicks presence is going to come with plenty of scrutiny beyond the football field. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Rivers Could Change The Carolina Rivalry In A Way Fans Hate
Philip Rivers has surfaced in the kind of rumor that instantly grabs attention across the Triangle, because the former NC State quarterback is now being linked to the Wolfpacks opening after Dave Doerens firing. Rivers is currently coaching at a high school in Alabama, and he has already acknowledged the chatter while making clear there is nothing concrete yet, but even the possibility is enough to stir up old memories and fresh debate.
For North Carolina fans, the idea carries an extra edge because Rivers is not just a former Wolfpack star, he is one of the most recognizable figures ever tied to the rivalry. The discussion has also brought up his connections to former teammates and what a hire like this could mean for NC States direction, but for now it remains exactly that, a conversation without an official decision. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Still Has One Big Roster Concern Before No. 1 Miami
North Carolinas Friday night availability report brought a little clarity ahead of its matchup with No. 1 Miami, and a little more uncertainty too. Five Tar Heels are still ruled out, while four others are listed as questionable, leaving the staff to sort through a roster picture that is still very much in flux as kickoff approaches.
There was one bit of good news for the Tar Heels, with defensive lineman Zavion Griffin-Haynes now considered available. Miami will also be short-handed, with six players out for the game, but the biggest update for UNC may still be coming later, when the final availability report is released two hours before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]