ACC Saturday Rewind

North Carolina 4, Gardner Webb 0

UNC showed why they’re still considered the No. 1 team in the land on Saturday evening, dominating Gardner Webb 4-0 on a night in which they were carrying heavy hearts. The Tarheels’ home debut was also a time for the team and fans to remember the late Kirk Urso, a legendary UNC men’s soccer player who died suddenly earlier this month. With Urso’s No. 3 painted on the field, the Tarheels symbolically scored in the third minute on a goal by College of Charleston transfer Andy Craven.

From there, UNC rolled through the match with ease, creating shots on offense and limiting Gardner Webb’s minimal chances. The Heels piled on three second half goals, the first coming on a brilliant individual effort by Daniel Garcia. The freshman playmaker from FC Dallas blew through the Gardner Webb defense and set up a tap-in goal for senior Jordan Gafa. Garcia would add another assist less than five minutes later, setting up a goal by Chipper Root. In the 89th minute, David Walden converted a penalty to make the score 4-0 and send the Tarheels to an emphatic victory.

UNC will face a tougher test on Friday when they host West Virginia at 7 p.m.

Wake Forest 1, Wofford 0

Freshman forward Jalen Robinson was the story of the night for No. 19 Wake Forest, as the Demon Deacons outmuscled Wofford 1-0 in a hard fought match. Robinson, College Soccer News’ third-ranked recruit of 2012, found the back of the net in his first regular season collegiate match on an opportunistic play after a failed clearance by a Wofford defender. The Demon Deacons outplayed Wofford for most of the evening in what was a bit of a tune-up match, and would rack up 19 shots in comparison to the Terriors’ eight.

The experienced Wake Forest squad will take the field next weekend for two more home games, facing Boston University on Friday night and West Virginia on Sunday night.

Head Coach Jay Vidovich postgame interview (Courtesy of Wake Forest Sports):

Notre Dame 1, Duke 0

Duke is one of only three ACC teams to drop its regular season opener after falling 1-0 to No. 18 Notre Dame in a match in which the Blue Devils simply could not find a rhythm offensively. Senior goalkeeper James Belshaw turned in a quality performance, racking up seven saves but ultimately Duke would come up short and drop a tough road match highlighted by a Ryan Finley goal late in the second half. Notre Dame outshot the Blue Devils 18-4 for the match and were simply more creative and more energetic in their attacks.

Nonetheless, a tough road test against a quality opponent for Duke. The Blue Devils will find their way. They open their home schedule on Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. against Santa Clara.