UNC keeper Alan Rutkowski saved Cal’s fifth try in a penalty shootout to help the No. 7 seed Tar Heels advance past the No. 10 seed Bears Wednesday night and into the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
Heels Advance ?
Joschi Schelb levels late and Alan Rutkowski makes two penalty saves to win it!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/qMtjExFmC7
— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) November 5, 2026
The match was only in a penalty shootout in the first place because of a late equalizer off the foot of UNC’s Joschi Schelb. The Tar Heels had trailed since the 23rd minute, when Cal’s Malcolm Zalayet scored to put the Bears ahead. Almost exactly one hour of match time later, Schelb corralled a bouncing ball inside the Cal penalty area and fired it into the bottom of the net.
Joschi’s 16th of the season sends us to extra time ?
Two 10-minute periods of golden goal followed by penalties if needed. #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/JGHKHOiFN6
— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) November 5, 2026
Tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match went to extra time for two 10-minute periods of golden-goal action. Carolina controlled most of the possession in that 20 minutes, firing three shots on goal to none for the Bears. UNC’s Ryan Zellefrow nearly ended the match less than a minute into extra time, heading a cross just left of the Cal goal. Zellefrow had another chance in the 105th minute which was saved.
After 110 minutes, Carolina had outshot Cal 23-7 and held the Bears to just one shot on target. But with the score still level at 1-1, the two sides went to penalties.
The Tar Heels took an early lead in the shootout after Luca Nikolai converted his try and Rutkowski saved Cesar Cordova’s attempt for Cal. But the Bears drew even in the third round after Bertil Rygaard Hansen’s try was saved. Cal keeper Thomas Grimes came close to stopping Carolina’s next two tries as well, but the shootout went into Cal’s final kick with UNC ahead 4-3. The Bears would need to convert to extend the shootout, but Rutkowski had other plans: he dove to his right and saved Jack Bowers’ attempt, ending the night with a UNC win.
Carolina now moves on to the quarterfinal round of the ACC Tournament, where the Tar Heels will face No. 2 seed Clemson at the Tigers’ home field Sunday, with a kickoff time yet to be announced. Clemson defeated UNC 2-1 in Chapel Hill in September.
Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group/Caleb Rothrock
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
UNC Men’s Soccer Advances to ACC Tournament Quarterfinals After Penalty Shootout Chapelboro.com.
Hence then, the article about unc men s soccer advances to acc tournament quarterfinals after penalty shootout was published today ( ) and is available on chapelboro ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( UNC Men’s Soccer Advances to ACC Tournament Quarterfinals After Penalty Shootout )
Also on site :