WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCW freshman midfielder
Adam Hillis will certainly remember the first goal of his college career for a long time.
Hillis' goal off a corner kick with 8:19 remaining proved to be the difference as the Seahawks defeated in-state foe North Carolina, 2-1, in front of a crowd of 1,321 fans at the UNCW Soccer Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Seahawks' second straight victory upped their record to 6-3-0 on the season while North Carolina dropped to 5-3-1.
Following a scoreless first half, the Seahawks took a 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute. After the Seahawks were awarded a free kick outside the penalty area, graduate student midfielder
Jacob Evans slipped a shot from a severe angle inside the left post for his first goal of the year.
North Carolina evened the score at 1-1 in the 80th minute when sophomore
Tim Schels scored his first goal of the season past junior goalkeeper
Gabriel Perrotta.
But, the tie didn't last long as a corner kick by graduate student defender
Michael Hornsby deflected off of a cutting Hillis and snuck past graduate student goalkeeper
Alec Smir for the game-winning marker.
The Tar Heels outshot UNCW by an 11-6 margin as Perrotta made five saves in a winning effort. Smir was credited with three stops.
UNCW and North Carolina both resume conference action this weekend. The Seahawks complete their three-game homestand by welcoming Northeastern for a Colonial Athletic Association clash at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. North Carolina, meanwhile, hosts NC State on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.
