By Sean McGuffin – @SeanMCG704
Wake Forest and UNC-Chapel Hill both had unremarkable seasons in the fall. Both teams recorded only two wins in conference play, with the Tar Heels finishing slightly better with 10 points, as opposed to the Deacons’ 9. The two schools opened conference play against each other, with a 1-1 draw in Chapel Hill back in September. The Deacons’ 7-4-6 overall record would not grant them a bid into the College Cup, but the Tar Heels’ 9-5-6 finish would punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. A second-round exit in PKs against Maryland would end Chapel Hill’s season and bring us to February, where the two Tobacco Road rivals will begin their Carolina Cup campaigns.
In the off-season, both schools would be represented in the MLS Super Draft multiple times. Jack Sandmeyer of UNC would be drafted 18th overall by the Chicago Fire. He started all twenty matches for the Tar Heels in 2025, and while he only scored two goals during his graduate season, his veteran presence will be missed. Wake Forest’s Harvey Sarajian was selected fifth overall by Orlando City SC as a sophomore. The two midfielders would be the first of their schools to be drafted in 2026, and they are two notable absences for this spring’s rematch.
Another crucial loss for the Deacons will be the team’s 2025 leading scorer, Cooper Flax, who signed with NYCFC. He topped an all-Senior top five in goal scoring for Wake Forest. The second-highest scorer, Senior Tate Lorentz, comes into the spring season with six goals and five assists. Lorentz is a transfer from UNC and looks to topple his former school in game one of their spring season. Another notable return for Wake is Jose Perez, who is returning for the Carolina Cup. This return is notable for this opening match as he scored the Deacons’ lone goal in their draw with Carolina over the fall.
UNC will look more familiar in the Spring with leading scorer Nacho Abeal returning to the spring roster in his Graduate season. Abeal capped seven goals for the Tar Heels in 2025 and started all 20 games. Gabriel Bracken Serra is another gifted graduate returning for the Heels this spring. Five goals and five assists for the California native show he can bring additional offensive firepower to this already experienced UNC team.
The Freshman sensation, Dan Klink, will play his first spring tournament for the Tar Heels after a breakout first year in Carolina blue. Playing the role of a super sub, Klink tallied six goals off the bench over the 2025 season. Klink has demonstrated exceptional skill in playing the ball out of the air, scoring all six of his goals off headers. At only 18 years old, Klink has already proven to be a valuable asset for the Heels and will be a player to watch this Carolina Cup.
Game time and location: Wake Forest will host the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, February 21 at W. Dennie Spry Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 PM ET.
