Men’s Soccer Takes Down VCU, 1-0

Friday, August 28

Chapel Hill

7:30 PM

North Carolina

1-1-1, 0-0-0

VCU

0-2-1, 0-0-0

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

Photo by: DALTON T WAINSCOTT

August 28, 2026 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina men's soccer got an early goal from Nick Lockermann and kept a clean sheet to defeat VCU, 1-0, on Friday night on Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium. Lockermann rifled a shot from well outside the box in the seventh minute to provide Carolina with the winning margin. The Heels only allowed five shots on the night, while posting 15 of their own to keep the Rams at bay.

How It Happened

2' – Luca Nikolai served in a cross from the right side but Ryan Zellefrow's header rung off the crossbar.
7' – Nick Lockermann smashed one into the upper 90 from well outside the box for his first goal as a Tar Heel.
23' – Zellefrow uncorked two shots in succession from the top of the 18 but the keeper was able to keep him at bay.
28' – VCU got off its first shot of the game but it sailed high and wide.
29' – Just seconds after entering the match, Dan Klink headed one on frame but the VCU keeper tapped it over the bar.
53' – Zellefrow blasted another one from the top of the box that had eyes for goal but a deflection sent it over the net.
68' – Alan Rutkowski tipped a free kick over the bar and then saved from a corner to keep the Heels' 1-0 advantage.
69' – Joschi Schelb fired two consecutive shots, one that was blocked and one that was saved.
74' – Luca Nikolai fired one with his left foot that forced a diving save by the VCU keeper.
76' – Zellefrow skipped around a defender and rolled one that the keeper tipped wide.
79' – Schelb snuck behind the defense and beat the keeper but his shot went just wide.

Tar Heel Tidbits

Nick Lockermann's goal was his first as a Tar Heel and the fourth of his career.
Nico Loebus picked up his first assist as a Tar Heel and the sixth of his career.
Alan Rutkowski made three saves to post the first clean sheet of his career.

Up Next
North Carolina will travel to the west coast to take on Cal on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m ET. That match will air on ACCNX.

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