Men's Soccer Hosts SMU Saturday Night

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina men's soccer will finish off a three-match homestand when it hosts SMU at Dorrance Field on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Heels enter the match at 4-1-2 (0-0-2 ACC), while SMU currently sits at 3-2-2 (0-0-1 AAC).

Carolina's match with SMU will air on ACCNX with Daron Vaught and Cedric Burke on the call.

Game Info
Who: Carolina vs. SMU
Where: Chapel Hill, N.C. – Dorrance Field
When: Saturday, Sept. 20 – 7 p.m.
Links: ACCNX | Live Stats | Tickets

Tar Heel Tidbits

This will be the fourth match-up between Carolina and SMU, and the first as ACC opponents, with each team having won one match and drawing the other. All three matches took place in the NCAA Tournament and UNC advanced on PKs after the draw.
Head Coach Carlos Somoano is in his 15th season at the helm of Carolina soccer (24th overall). He holds a career record of 180-64-51.
Carolina inexplicably fell from No. 21 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 to receiving votes after draws against the now No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the poll.
GK Andrew Cordes posted his third clean sheet of the season against Memphis. He now has 23 clean sheets during his career.
Nacho Abeal has made his presence felt over his first seven matches as a Tar Heel. He currently leads the team in goals (3) and assists (4) and his 10 points are tied for fourth in the ACC. He's now scored 14 goals during his collegiate career, including six game winners, to go along with nine assists.
Despite missing two games, Gabriel Bracken Serra ranks second on the team in points with five. He got his name on the scoresheet against Memphis with a goal and assist.
Luca Nikolai started all 39 of his games at James Madison over the previous two seasons, notching five goals and six assists. He entered 2025 as a member of Top Drawer Soccer's Best XI and ranked No. 9 on their Top 100 list. He is also a member of the Mac Hermann Trophy Watch List.

Stay up to date with UNC men's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Players Mentioned

Nacho Abeal

Gabriel Bracken Serra

Andrew Cordes

Luca Nikolai

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