Acosta’s Late Equalizer Forces 1-1 Draw At Notre Dame

Friday, October 11

South Bend, Ind.

7 PM

North Carolina

7-1-4, 3-1-1

Notre Dame

5-3-4, 2-2-1

North Carolina

Notre Dame

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

October 11, 2024 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 7 North Carolina (7-1-4, 3-1-1 ACC) and Notre Dame (5-2-3, 2-2-1 ACC) battled to a 1-1 draw on Friday night at Alumni Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, after a late equalizer from Matthew Acosta.

How It Happened

The lone look on frame in the first half came from Martin Vician in the 34th minute, whose low shot from distance was saved by Notre Dame keeper Blake Kelly.
There were a combined five shots between the two sides at the break with UNC holding a slight 3-2 advantage.
Both teams picked up the pace in the second half, and the 51st minute saw Luke Hille send off a powerful shot after creating space at the top of the 18, but his shot sailed just over the crossbar.
After initially whistled for a Notre Dame handball inside the box in the 61st minute, the call was overturned after VAR review to deny Carolina a penalty kick opportunity.
Andrew Cordes came up big moments later, denying KK Baffour's curling shot off an open look with an acrobatic save.
The Fighting Irish got on the board in the 66th minute when Matthew Roou's shot, which looked as if it would go over the crossbar, fell early and bounced past the goal line.
The Tar Heels found the equalizer with six minutes remaining when Tate Johnson sent the ball back from the left side into the path of Acosta pressing down the middle. With his second touch from about 25 yards out, Acosta fired a lethal strike to level the score at 1-1.

Inside The Numbers

Friday was the 14th meeting between the two schools.
Acosta recorded his first goal as a Tar Heel. Johnson notched his second career assist.
UNC finished with a narrow 10-9 edge in shots while both sides had four shots on goal.
Carolina had five corner kicks to Notre Dame's three.
Cordes made three saves between the posts, all in the second half.
It proved to be a physical match with a total of five yellow cards being shown.

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