Men’s Soccer Draws With SMU, 1-1

Saturday, September 20

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7 PM

North Carolina

4-1-3, 0-0-3

SMU

3-2-3, 0-0-2

SMU

North Carolina

Photo by: DALTON T. WAINSCOTT

September 20, 2025 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina men's soccer settled for a draw against SMU on Saturday night. Gabriel Bracken Serra opened the scoring in the 4', converting a penalty that he earned, but SMU converted one of their own in the 34'.

The Tar Heels moved to (4-1-3, 0-0-3 ACC), while the Mustangs are now 3-2-3 (0-0-2 ACC).

How It Happened

North Carolina applied pressure early and in just the third minute was awarded with a penalty kick when Gabriel Bracken Serra was taken down by the SMU goalie while trying to get around him.
Bracken Serra took the penalty kick and scored on a Panenka to put Carolina up 1-0 just 4 minutes in. It was Bracken Serra's third goal of the year and 16th of his career.
SMU pulled back even in the 34th minute after being awarded a penalty. Mukisa Emmanuel blasted the ball from the spot to the right of the goal. Andrew Cordes got a hand on the ball, but it wasn't enough and the game was tied 1-1.
The game went into halftime knotted at 1-1.
SMU was able to apply pressure in the second half. With 15 minutes left, Andrew Cordes was challenged on a header from Milton Lopez, but the Tar Heel goalie ranged to his left to make a diving save and keep the game tied.
After a flurry of yellow cards, Carolina had its biggest chance of the second half with four minutes left. Dylan Kropp got free off of a set piece and put a header on net, but was unable to convert.
The match ended tied at 1.

Inside the Box Score

Eight Tar Heels played all 90 minutes.
Andrew Cordes was a brick wall in net, saving all five shots he saw in open play.
The match got chippy as the two teams combined for 26 total fouls.
Luca Nikolai peppered the net, and led Carolina with four shots.

Tar Heel Tidbits

This was the fourth match-up between Carolina and SMU and the first as ACC foes. The series currently stands at 1-1-2.

Up Next
North Carolina will spend the next week preparing for a road trip to Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 27. The Tar Heels and Cavaliers have met 88 times with UVA leading the series 40-37-11.

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