Men's Soccer Travels To Memphis For Match Day Two On Monday

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina men's soccer will finish off its two-game road swing to open the 2026 season when it travels to Memphis to take on the Tigers on Monday, Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT). The Heels are coming off a strong season-opening performance at No. 5 Georgetown, where they earned a 1-1 draw against the Hoyas' veteran side. Joschi Schelb scored on his UNC debut and Alan Rutkowski made five saves in his first collegiate match. Memphis opened its season with a 2-0 win at Belmont. The two sides met last year with Carolina putting three past Memphis for a 3-0 win.

Carolina's match at Memphis will air on ESPN+ with Jeff Brightwell on the call.

Game Info
Who: Carolina at Memphis
Where: Memphis, Tenn. – Track and Soccer Complex
When: Monday, Aug. 24 – 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT

Tar Heel Tidbits

Carolina opened the 2026 season earning a result at No. 5 Georgetown on Thursday night. Joschi Schelb scored his first goal as a Tar Heel and Alan Rutkowski made five saves in his first collegiate appearance to secure the draw against the veteran Hoyas.
Head Coach Carlos Somoano is in his 16th season at the helm of Carolina soccer (25th overall). He holds a career record of 185-68-56.
Carolina opened the season in the 'Others Receiving Votes' category of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and was ranked No. 25 by TopDrawerSoccer.
Carolina's transfer class of Nick Lockermann, Nico Loebus, Joschi Schelb and Ryan Zellefrow was ranked No. 2 by TopDrawerSoccer, while its incoming freshman class was ranked 14th.
Luca Nikolai was drafted by NYCFC, but made the decision to return to Carolina to finish off his college career leading the Tar Heels. He was a third-team All-South Region and second-team All-ACC selection last year.
Carolina had six players listed on the Hermann Trophy Watch Lists. Lockermann earned a spot with the defenders, while Evans Dapaah, Loebus, Nikolai, Schelb and Zellefrow were listed on the midfielders list, although Schelb will play as a forward this season.
After four years with Andrew Cordes in goal, Alan Rutkowski has taken over the goalkeeping duties. The Elmwood, N.J. native served as Cordes' understudy last season after playing his club football with the New York Red Bulls.

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Players Mentioned

Andrew Cordes

Evans Dapaah

Nick Lockermann

Nico Loebus

Luca Nikolai

Alan Rutkowski

Joschi Schelb

Ryan Zellefrow

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