CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The seventh-seeded Virginia Tech men's soccer team went on the road to the face the second seeded North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday afternoon.
The Hokies (10-6-3), bid for an upset got off to a slow start as the Tar Heels got on the board within the first 13 minutes through Jeremy Kelly's strike from the top of the box.
In the 38thminute, Mauricio Pineda doubled the Tar Heels' advantage directing his first-time effort low and under Mathijs Swaneveld. Late on in the 75thminute Jake Skahan put the match to bed with a near post finish on a breakaway to make it 3-0.
UNC, the nation's fourth ranked team improved to 12-2-1 on the season with the victory and will advance to Wednesday's ACC Semifinals against the Duke Blue Devils, who defeated Pittsburgh in a penalty shootout.
The Hokies did attempt seven shots on the afternoon, with the best opportunities coming from Nico Quashie and Arion Sobers-Assue who's shot was blocked.
Sweaneveld secured three saves in goal.
OF NOTE
- The match, Tech's 19thof the season, was just the first in which the Hokies' defense had been beaten three times.
- It was just the second time in 2018 that the Hokies had failed to score.
Next up: The Hokies will now wait for the NCAA's Selection Show which will take place on Monday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. to find out their opponent in the competition. Tech has made two consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships beginning with the 2016 run to the Elite Eight.
Last season, the Hokies won their opening round match at Thompson Field against Air Force before being eliminated in the Second Round.
In 2018, the Hokies are seventh in the national RPI rankings and were eighth in the Selection Committee's initial report, announced last weekend.
The team will host a watch party for friends of the program.