CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Richard Jata set up the first goal and scored the winner Wednesday night to lead Campbell to a 2-1 victory over North Carolina at Fetzer Field.
Campbell defeated UNC for the second-straight year, following last year’s 1-0 triumph in Buies Creek over a Tar Heel club that was ranked number three in the nation at the time.
Jata set up Josue Soto’s volley in the 13th minute, then staked the Camels to a 2-0 lead after 24 minutes of play with a 25-yard shot into the upper left corner for his fifth goal of the season.
“I’m proud of the team and the way they played,” said CU Head Coach Doug Hess. “I thought it was a solid team effort across the board.”
With the win, the Fighting Camels improve to 10-4-2 on the year, gaining their first road win against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent since a 6-3 victory at Maryland in 1993. CU also ran its record away from home to 7-2-2 for the 2007 campaign.
CU also played its 16th-straight contest that was decided by one goal or ended in a draw. The Camels are 10-4 in one-goal decisions this year. Campbell also improved to 10-0-0 in games when Jata scores since the start of the 2006 season.
The Tar Heels fell to 6-5-5 on the year and saw their two-match win streak halted.
In the 13th minute, Jata dribbled through the Tar Heel defense; then passed to Soto just inside the 18 yard box, where the freshman
midfielder punched it in on the right side of the net. The goal was Soto’s team-leading eighth of the season.
The Fighting Camels struck again in the 25th minute, as Ben York, a freshman midfielder from High Point, set up Jata, who placed the ball into the upper left corner of the net.
Camel keeper Aaron Johnson deflected a trio Carolina blasts in the first half, including a point-blank shot from Joan Carvajal midway through the period. He finished the night with four saves.
“The first half was pretty evenly played,” said Hess. “We just made two chances count with a great finish from Soto and one from Jata.”
Carolina pulled within one in the 50th minute, as sophomore forward Eddie Ababio followed Joan Carvajal’s rebound for his second goal of the season.
“I though it was a fantastic game and I’m really proud of the team and the way they really played as a team,” added Hess. “I thought we were very disciplined in our approach to the game and when we had chances to play, we played. With our patience, I think we frustrated them a bit.”
The Camels return to action next Wednesday at home in a 7:00 p.m. kick-off against UNC Greensboro.
Campbell’s 2-1 victory on Tuesday night was the first-ever for the Camels in Chapel Hill. UNC won the first nine meetings between the schools at home, dating to the 1963 season, Campbell’s first year of varsity men’s soccer.
Victories over UNC in 2006 and 2007 marked the first time in the 21-match series that Campbell has won back-to-back games against the Tar Heels. CU defeated North Carolina previously during the 1964, 1981, 1988 and 2006 seasons.
Campbell 2, North Carolina 1
Scoring:
CAM (12:46) Josue Soto (Richard Jata assist)
CAM (24:07) Richard Jata (Ben York)
UNC (59:37) Eddie Ababio (Joan Carvajal)
Shots: Campbell 8, North Carolina 14
Corner Kicks: Campbell 3, North Carolina 10
Saves: Campbell (Aaron Johnson) 4, North Carolina (Tyler Deric 1, Brooks Haggerty 1) 2
Fouls: Campbell 8, North Carolina 9
Yellow Cards: Campbell – Richard Jata (83:14); North Carolina – Garry Lewis (77:17)
Records: Campbell 10-4-2, North Carolina 6-5-5
Courtesy: GoCamels.com