CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – On a windy Tuesday night, the Georgia State men's soccer team was defeated by No. 15 North Carolina at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels scored three goals in the first half en route to the 4-0 victory on Oct. 14.
GSU had the first shot of the match in the fifth minute but Rashid Alarape's effort was blocked. North Carolina responded with a chance of its own in the 6th minute but CJ Cochran made the save. Cochran was tested again in the 25th minute when Alan Winn got behind the Panthers' defense. However, the senior goalkeeper was quick off his line to deny the attacker from close range.
Two minutes later the Tar Heels grabbed the lead when Andy Craven scored his eighth goal of the season. Winn found Tyler Engel who threaded a through ball to Craven, who slotted it into the bottom-left corner past a diving Cochran.
North Carolina doubled its lead in the 33rd minute when Nyambi Jabang made a quick turn and fired a shot from 35 yards out into the top-left corner. Jabang grabbed his second goal in the 43rd minute off a corner kick to give the Tar Heels a 3-0 lead after 45 minutes.
- North Carolina outshot Georgia State 8-1 and took all three corner kicks in the first half.
In the first 30 minutes of the second half the Tar Heels had four chances to extend their lead.
- First in the 49th minute Engel nearly scored but his shot hit the left post.
- Then in the 53rd Omar Holness had a chance but Cochran made the save.
- Cochran was forced to make another save on a shot by Zach Wright in the 67th minute.
- Finally, Walker Hume tested Cochran in the 75th minute but the GSU keeper recorded the save.
North Carolina finally broke through for its fourth goal in the 89th minute when Verneri Valimaa scored his second of the season. Valimaa received Wright's pass and attacked from the right. He then chipped the ball over Cochran and into the back of the net.
- The Tar Heels took all 10 shots in the second half and three of four corners.
- GSU returns to the field on Saturday, Oct. 18 for a Sun Belt Conference match against Appalachian State in Boone, N.C.
