No. 16 Men’s Soccer Draws With Duke, 2-2, Friday Night - University of North Carolina Athletics

Friday, October 23

Durham, N.C.

8 PM

North Carolina

7-2-4, 3-1-3

Duke

7-8-1, 1-5-1

Team	1	2	Final F
North Carolina	1	1	2
Duke	2	0	2

October 23, 2026 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 16 North Carolina came from behind twice in a 2-2 draw with Duke on Friday night at Koskinen Stadium. In a hotly contested match between the two rivals, Carolina looked the most likely to find a winner, but couldn't find the breakthrough late in the game. The Tar Heels got goals from Nico Loebus in the first half and Luca Nikolai in the second to end up sharing the points.

UNC is now 7-2-4 (3-1-3 ACC) on the season, while Duke sits at 7-8-1 (1-5-1 ACC)

Duke got on the board first in the 15th minute with a penalty after Jack Ottley was brought down in the box. Sol Arbib stepped up and buried it for a 1-0 Duke advantage. But UNC responded just five minutes later when Nikolai played a lovely free kick into the box and Loebus swiveled and rifled it home to level. Duke went back in front in the 40th minute on a low, hard shot by Ethan Congleton that just beat Alan Rutkowski to give the Devils the lead at the break.

The Heels came out in the second half on the front foot as Duke appeared to be parking the bus. After sustained pressure, Ryan Zellefrow played in Joschi Schelb, who was brought down. There was no call but VAR intervened and gave the penalty. Nikolai remained perfect on the year, scoring for the fourth time from the spot to level. Carolina kept up the pressure but couldn't find the winner in the last 25 minutes.

How It Happened

12' – Max Fisher pounced on a ball in the box but his low screamer went wide.
14' – Joschi Schelb fired one from the top of the box that forced a strong palm from Duke's keeper and Ryan Zellefrow almost buried the rebound, forcing a double save
15' – Alan Rutkowski tried to claim a ball in the box but Duke's Jack Ottley beat him to the ball and the ref gave a penalty. Sol Arbib buried the spot kick to give Duke a 1-0 lead.
20' – Luca Nikolai played a beautiful free kick to find Nico Loebus who swiveled and blasted one into the back of the net to level.
40' – Duke's Ethan Congleton pounced on a rebound from Alan Rutkowski and hit it low and hard to put Duke back in front.
51' – Bertil Rygaard Hansen rounded Julius Suber and the Duke defender was forced to pull him down, picking up a yellow.
53' – Loebus clipped a ball into the box but it floated a little high and skimmed off Schelb's head wide of the goal.
56' – Schelb lined a curler up from outside the box and forced a diving save from Duke's keeper.
64' – Schelb was brought down in the box. It went to VAR and ruled a penalty. Luca Nikolai kept his perfect record on penalties and leveled at 2-2.

Tar Heel Tidbits

Nico Loebus's goal was his first of the season and the second of his career.
Luca Nikolais' penalty was his fourth of the season and the 12th of his career. He's converted all four of his penalty chances.
Nikolai's assist was his sixth of the season and the 19th of his career.
Tonight was only the fourth time all season that UNC's opponent got on the scoreboard first.

Up Next
Carolina returns to Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium on Tuesday when it hosts William & Mary at 6 p.m. That match will air on ACCNX.

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