By JOHN BOSCHINI
Underdog Charlotte looked poised to pull another upset, and make North Carolina the latest victim, but Tar Heels forward Ben Speas delivered a goal worthy of a championship to help UNC win its first NCAA title in a decade.
Speas, who won a national title with Akron last season, produced the game's lone goal 24 minutes from time with a fantastic strike. Enzo Martinez passed the ball off to Speas and the Ohio native created some space for himself and produced a dipping shot that skimmed the underside of the crossbar and left Charlotte goalkeeper Klay Davis with no chance.
The goal held up despite a late rally from Charlotte, making North Carolina the fourth different ACC school in five years to win an NCAA title. The win also made Carlos Somoano just the second head coach to win a national championship in his first season in charge.
Charlotte showed that their appearance in the College Cup was no fluke with a flurry of chances in the final half an hour. Thomas Allen saw his goal-bound header cleared off the line by Jordan Gafa with seven minutes left. Then Goodwin stoned came up with a close-range save before seeing the rebound careen off his crossbar with five minutes left. T.J. Beaulieu's shot with three minutes left was just over the crossbar as was Issac Cowles header seconds later.
The first half produced very little in terms of gilt-edged chances neither team was able to impose their style on the other team. Charlotte was the more physical side early on and benefited from referee Michael Kennedy's unwillingness to produce cards. Giuseppe Gentile's shot in the eights minute was deflected out for a corner kick and Speas was unable to deflect home Schuler's cross for the only chances in the early going.
North Carolina should have taken the lead into the locker room but Mikey Lopez was unable to finish off a North Carolina fast break put his shot from eight yards out wide of the post.
Second half started with a bit of controversy. Donnie Smith broke into the box and was brought down by UNC captain Kirk Urso. Kennedy, who was very lenient throughout the game, denied appeals for a penalty. Charlotte almost broke the deadlock again but Goodwin came up with a big save after a scramble inside the box. Gentile continued Charlotte's dominance with a rocket from the edge of the box but his shot was just wide of the post. Goodwin then spilled a long free kick and was fortunate to see the ball go just side of the post.
North Carolina was soon back in the game just before the TV timeout as Speas floated a teasing ball to the back post but sophomore striker Robbie Lovejoy put his header just wide. It was just the precursor to Speas incredible strike with 24 minutes remaining in the game.
From then on it was all Charlotte, but the 49ers were unable to find a way past Goodwin as UNC defended with desperation.
Kudos to both teams — to UNC for winning and to Charlotte for playing with so much commitment, energy and heart. Finals of any competition are often very measured and dull. This was the opposite escortlar
Kudos to both teams — to UNC for winning and to Charlotte for playing with so much commitment, energy and heart. Finals of any competition are often very measured and dull. This was the opposite
great run for the 49ers… they deserved a goal or two yesterday…
Damn Tarholes!
Kudos to both teams — to UNC for winning and to Charlotte for playing with so much commitment, energy and heart. Finals of any competition are often very measured and dull. This was the opposite — and so much fun to watch. Sure, it was frenetic at times in a college soccer way, but the level of technical ability was admirable. You rarely saw missed traps or errant passes. The college game has really come along in the past years.
That was the first college game I watched all season and it was one of the BEST games I’ve seen in a while. It was so entertaining. These guys were playing with such heart. I looooooved that the referee let them play a very physical style. It was amazing! I wish MLS or international referee’s allowed that style of play.
What an amazing goal and what an effort by Carolina. I will definitely be tuning in to more NCAA games next season.
I wish the USMNT played with such heart and conviction as these young men did. They literally left it all on the field.
I don’t know about their title deserving an asterisk and all that, but yeah, that no call was hard to understand. Donnie Smith had been wreaking havoc on UNC for the majority of the game, he clearly gets yanked down in the box and nothing. Granted, Kennedy had established early on that he was going to let the players play, but there’s a difference between letting physical play go in the middle third of the field and completely ignoring a clear-as-day penalty.
Still, props to Speas and UNC. They can’t control the ref’s decisions, they took their opportunity and went out and did what they needed to do. Charlotte played a hell of a game and definitely got the better of the play, they just couldn’t put one away. All in all, that was one of the more entertaining games I watched all weekend, professional or not.
Did you happen to notice the Ref? Kennedy is poor at the MLS level and now at the college level too
UNC may have the trophy but they were far from being the better team today.
If the previous coach signs a form you dont have to sit.
Often done for personal reasons, like guys wanting to move close to home when a family member gets sick, etc..
Yeah but it’s College Soccer…not exactly the El Clasico.
Can’t believe no one is talking about Donnie Smith being hauled down in the box… was a blatant PK. UNC’s win should be considered hugely controversial in my opinion they stole this one and their title deserves an asterisk.
you must have been in the concession stand line for the entire UCLA-UNC semifinal then
clueless snob… UNC was bunkering after getting the lead, no different than most pro teams aside from Barca… Manchester United would do the same thing with a late 1-0 lead on a cold night in Stoke
Absurd how many comments this has on ESPN-like 240
The UNC-UCLA semi was a yawner? Didn’t look that way on TV.
I’m with you how is it that he didn’t have to sit out for one year after transferring?
I attended all 3 matches. Semi’s were yawners, save for a few bright spots. Final was not only interesting to watch tactically, but entertaining as HELL.
Charlotte’s fans were def energetic and spirted. However, there were a few water bottles tossed during the award presentation. That’s pretty sad, and unnecessary.
Past goalkeeper Klay Davis?
Well, sheeeeeeeit.
Is Speas the first player to win two NCAA tournaments with two different teams,…back to back no less?
I never saw the goal, yet I watched the final 30, but I told my son to hide his eyes to avoid being forever scared from watching such dreadful play. Aren’t the quality lads playing abroad at this age?? I watched the USA u-17’s play last week and was very impressed of the technical ability they possessed.
Porter wanted to turn Speas into the next Kofi Sarkodie…Speas wanted to play forward. No room at the inn given that Akron had Mattocks and then Holmes comming in and Speas had a lackluster spring. UNC plays 3 forwards, to so their system worked out much better for him….
Will since you insist on calling it football it’s obvious you’re a pathetic eurotrash snob. Ives called the winning goal stunning and that’s exactly what it was. As for the physicality there was nothing close to the leg breaking physicality you see in the EPL.
agreed, maybe because I just finished watching premiership..but man that was some ugly football, they sure had the physicality aspect down however.
Speas and Caleb Porter agreed it wasnt working out for him at Akron. He was a contributor to Akron’s championship season last year and he is from the Akron area so it is hard to understand why Porter would let him go but he did. I have to think that Porter didnt rate him as highly as Speas thought he should. We now know who was right about that one. Congrats Speasyboy, you were the star of the show tonight.
Jealous much.
Another one for the Trophy case for the HEELS!
I’ve been wondering the same thing. Anyone know why Speas transferred?
Great soccer, very tactical and not so robotic as the typical plug-me-in and watch me go “academy” style.
The crowd was really in to it. A real nail biter.
College soccer is definitely on the move.
how did this guy end up at UNC if he played at Akron last? And why would he have left?
Frank, You have to be kidding me. Sure they aren’t the EPL but for college sports, not to shabby. In addition, it at least means that the future of US soccer is bright.
there that good?
watching college soccer is like watching my cousins fraternity intramural team play,