Saturday, October 6
Durham, NC (Koskinen Stadium)
7 p.m.
North Carolina
9-1
2
vs
1
Virginia Tech
6-4-2
1
2
F
Virginia Tech
1
0
1
North Carolina
1
1
2
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Bruening's Brace Leads No. 3 UNC Past No. 19 Virginia Tech 2-1
October 6, 2018 | Men's Soccer
DURHAM, NC – Nils Bruening's brace lifted No. 3 North Carolina (9-1-0) past No. 19 Virginia Tech (6-4-2) 2-1 on Saturday at Koskinen Stadium in Durham. The senior scored the game-winner in the 84th minute to lead the Heels to their seventh consecutive win and remain as the only unbeaten team in conference play.
North Carolina opened the scoring in the 21st minute off the foot of Bruening. Jelani Pieters beat his defender with a spin move on the right side of the box before sliding a pass across the front of the goal to Bruening who had no problem finding the net for his 4th goal of the year.
It appeared Carolina added to its lead just minutes later on a Milo Garvanian left footed goal, but the goal was disallowed on a foul against the Tar Heels moments before the goal.
After multiple scoring chances, Virginia Tech finally capitalized with 0:59 left in the first half. A cross from the left side of the box found the head of Vincent Jackson II who kept it down and got it past James Pyle for the equalizer. This marked the first goal Carolina had allowed since Sept. 8 against Pitt, a span of over four games and 517 minutes of play.
Entering halftime, Virginia Tech out shot the Heels 8-5 and led on corner kick 3-0 as the Heels struggled to get things going offensively. Coming in to the game, the Heels had dominated opponents in the first half outshooting their opponents 46-13.
Each team had plenty of chances but couldn't break through for the first 38 minutes of the second half. Bruening had the best chance for the Tar Heels as he took only one touch off a cross but it went just wide of the far post. VT had a couple of free kicks from good positions but the Tar Heel defense held strong.
Carolina broke the deadlock in the 84th minute when Bruening took a pass from Raul Aguilera and calmly beat the keeper with his left foot to the near post. His second goal of the night marks his first multi-goal game since he scored four against Boston College on Sept. 23, 2016.
The Tar Heels return to action Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. when they take on the Old Dominion Monarchs in Norfolk, Virginia.
North Carolina opened the scoring in the 21st minute off the foot of Bruening. Jelani Pieters beat his defender with a spin move on the right side of the box before sliding a pass across the front of the goal to Bruening who had no problem finding the net for his 4th goal of the year.
It appeared Carolina added to its lead just minutes later on a Milo Garvanian left footed goal, but the goal was disallowed on a foul against the Tar Heels moments before the goal.
After multiple scoring chances, Virginia Tech finally capitalized with 0:59 left in the first half. A cross from the left side of the box found the head of Vincent Jackson II who kept it down and got it past James Pyle for the equalizer. This marked the first goal Carolina had allowed since Sept. 8 against Pitt, a span of over four games and 517 minutes of play.
Entering halftime, Virginia Tech out shot the Heels 8-5 and led on corner kick 3-0 as the Heels struggled to get things going offensively. Coming in to the game, the Heels had dominated opponents in the first half outshooting their opponents 46-13.
Each team had plenty of chances but couldn't break through for the first 38 minutes of the second half. Bruening had the best chance for the Tar Heels as he took only one touch off a cross but it went just wide of the far post. VT had a couple of free kicks from good positions but the Tar Heel defense held strong.
Carolina broke the deadlock in the 84th minute when Bruening took a pass from Raul Aguilera and calmly beat the keeper with his left foot to the near post. His second goal of the night marks his first multi-goal game since he scored four against Boston College on Sept. 23, 2016.
The Tar Heels return to action Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. when they take on the Old Dominion Monarchs in Norfolk, Virginia.
Team Stats
VT
NC
Goals
1
2
Shots
10
13
Shots on Goal
2
4
Saves
2
1
Corners
5
5
Fouls
13
6
Scoring Plays
Nils Bruening (4)
Assisted By: Jelani Pieters
ball slid across the box and finished cl
20:45
Vincent Jackson II (1)
Assisted By: James Kasak
Header GOAL by VT Vincent Jackson II, Assist by James Kasak, goal number 1 for season.
44:03
Nils Bruening (5)
Assisted By: Raul Aguilera
left footed finish
83:52
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
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