The No. 21 Virginia men’s soccer team knew it could not afford to enter postseason play with three consecutive ACC losses, and after a gritty performance Saturday night against No. 6 North Carolina , it won’t.
The Cavaliers (9-5-2, 3-3-2 ACC), despite falling behind in the 51st minute, used the equalizing goal from senior midfielder Eric Bird — his team-high fifth of the season — to battle back and tie the Tar Heels (12-4-1, 5-2-1 ACC), 1-1. The game remained tied after two extra-time periods, ending North Carolina’s seven-match win streak.
The Tar Heel strike came off a wild shot into traffic that deflected off of North Carolina senior forward Tyler Engel into the Virginia net. Engel also played a role in the lone Cavalier goal, as Bird’s cross into the box ricocheted off Engel’s head and over the North Carolina goalkeeper for an own-goal.
Virginia was outshot 15-11, though it had a 4-1 advantage in the second extra-time period. Senior goalkeeper Calle Brown recorded four saves, none more important than a diving stop of a North Carolina header in the 108th minute.
With the tie, Virginia earned the No. 8 seed in the ACC tournament bracket, which was announced Saturday night following the match. The Cavaliers will face No. 9 seed Virginia Tech — whom they defeated 1-0 Sept. 12 — in one of two quarterfinal play-in matches.
The winner will square off against defending national champion No. 5 Notre Dame — the tournament’s No. 1 seed — Sunday, a team Virginia tied 1-1 Sept. 21.
The match against Virginia Tech will kick off Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium.
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