North Carolina is heading to Berkeley with its ACC opener lined up Sunday night against Cal, and the Tar Heels arrive with a little momentum after a 1-0 win over VCU last Friday.
The matchup kicks off at 7 p.m. at Edwards Stadium and will be available on ACCNX. Carolina enters the game after a season start that included a 1-1 draw at No.
5 Georgetown, a road loss to Memphis, and then the home victory over VCU. Cal, meanwhile, comes in off a 2-2 draw with No.
14 UCLA on Tuesday.
The two programs have met three times before, with North Carolina holding a 2-1-0 edge in the series.
This is also a first look at how Carolina’s roster shapes up in 2026 under Carlos Somoano, who is in his 16th season leading the program and 25th overall. His career record stands at 186-69-56.
The Tar Heels opened the year in the “Others Receiving Votes” group in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and were ranked No. 25 by TopDrawerSoccer. TopDrawerSoccer also rated Carolina’s transfer class of Nick Lockermann, Nico Loebus, Joschi Schelb and Ryan Zellefrow at No. 2 nationally, while the incoming freshman class checked in at No. 14.
Luca Nikolai is back in the mix after being drafted by NYCFC and choosing to return to Carolina to finish his college career. He earned third-team All-South Region and second-team All-ACC honors last season.
Carolina also had six players on the Hermann Trophy Watch Lists. Lockermann was listed among the defenders, while Evans Dapaah, Loebus, Nikolai, Schelb and Zellefrow were named to the midfielders list, with Schelb set to play as a forward this season.
In goal, Alan Rutkowski has stepped into the starting role after four seasons with Andrew Cordes as the Tar Heels’ keeper. Rutkowski, from Elmwood, N.J., backed up Cordes last year after playing club soccer with the New York Red Bulls.
In Other News...
Former Tar Heel Cedric Gray Suddenly Faces Troubling Week 1 Uncertainty
Cedric Gray entered the week hoping to be part of Tennessees plans for the 2026 season opener, but the former Tar Heel linebacker suddenly found himself dealing with an entirely different kind of hurdle. The Titans said Gray was placed in concussion protocol after a UTV accident that left him with a concussion and minor injuries, creating a late-week cloud over his status as the opener approached.
The timing makes the setback especially frustrating, because the team confirmed the accident happened just days before kickoff and said neither alcohol nor reckless driving was involved. For Gray, it is the kind of preseason jolt that can change a players short-term outlook in a hurry, and it leaves his availability for Week 1 very much in question. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Is Turning Kenan Saturdays Into A Bigger Event This Fall
Kenan Stadium Saturdays are getting another dose of pageantry this fall as Chapel Thrill Gameday returns for a second straight year, turning UNC football home dates into more of an all-day event. It begins Sept. 12 against East Tennessee State with a free concert from DJ Diesel, better known as Shaquille O'Neal, and the pregame lineup also includes the Old Well Walk, tailgating options, a Modelo Kickoff Club and appearances by the UNC Drumline and Marching Tar Heels.
The idea is to make game day feel bigger than the game itself, with additional concerts planned across the season to keep the campus buzzing before kickoff. Chase Rice, Parmalee, Neon Trees and Waka Flocka Flame are among the acts slated to be part of the fall schedule, giving Tar Heel fans a reason to show up early even before the team takes the field. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Heads Into Home Opener With One Big Defensive Concern
North Carolinas build toward its home opener has been complicated by more than just the usual early-season questions. Steve Belichick has been on medical leave since early August, leaving the Tar Heels without their defensive coordinator during a stretch when teams are normally tightening communication, sharpening assignments and settling into a routine.
The absence lands in a moment when the program is also dealing with an outside investigation into allegations involving team culture and conduct, adding another layer of uncertainty around a staff already under a bright spotlight. Bill Belichick has addressed the inquiry publicly and stressed the programs commitment to high standards and proper care for student-athletes, but with no public timetable for Steve Belichicks return, the defensive side of the operation remains one of the teams more pressing storylines. [Read more 🡒]