Two second-half goals were all Virginia needed to overcome the stubborn resistance of then-No. 2 North Carolina and end the Cavaliers' alumni weekend on a high note.
It's been 28 years since the Tar Heels earned a significant result at Klöckner Stadium, and, with the class of 1969 and 1989 in attendance, the Cavaliers ensured the streak stayed intact with a solid display, especially in defense.
North Carolina has been the class of the ACC this season and showed why in the first half.
The much vaunted strike duo of freshman Yannick Reyering and junior Adam Cristman were kept fairly quiet, with the Tar Heel defense doing a good job of running down space and disrupting Virginia's midfieldrhythm. The Cavaliers got the first chance of the game in the opening minutes, but Cristman and Jeremy Barlow had their shots well saved by Ford Williams in Carolina's goal. Williams, who finished with a game-high four saves, made two good reflex saves at the near post from point-blank shots.
The Tar Heels chose wisely to slow the pace down and take the crowd of 3,104 out of the game, preferring to move the ball methodically and probe for holes in Virginia's defense. As the half went on, Carolina grew in confidence as it got a couple of decent chances to take the lead.
The Tar Heel's Corey Ashe had sight of goal in the 22nd minute, but his shot was well blocked by a trio of Cavalier defenders. Virginia then had to survive anxious moments four minutes later when Carolina's Scott Campbell was left unmarked at the far post with only goal keeper Ryan Burke to beat. With the goal at his mercy, the freshman midfielder could only steer his diving header wide.
"We did a good job defending [in the first half], not giving them many chances," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "But I thought they had more of the possession."
Virginia approached the second half with more purpose, and it took the Cavaliers only five minutes to finally find a way past the blue wall. Cristman showed great strength to rob a Carolina defender of the ball before striking a good low shot that beat Williams to his right. It was Cristman's seventh goal of the season in only eight games.
"They are a really good soccer team, and they were getting on us," senior midfielder Joe Vide said. "Getting on the board first was key."
After the goal, Carolina threw its patient approach to the game out of the window and moved swiftly to attack. The Tar Heels came close to drawing level but had their chance cleared off the line by Chris Tierney.
The chance was Carolina's best of the half, and it was made to pay dearly 20 minutes later when Reyering got his name on the score sheet with 17 minutes left to play. Vide sent a hopeful through ball for Cristman that looked harmless until Carolina keeper Williams fumbled a routine save. Cristman pulled the ball back for the onrushing Reyering, who made no mistake with an empty goal in front of him. Reyering's strike was the final nail in Carolina's coffin, ending its unbeaten start to the season.
"I thought the second half was ours," Gelnovatch said. "It was a solid performance."
Virginia stays perfect in conference play and will entertain Monmouth tomorrow at Klöckner Stadium.
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