There are two more weeks of Carolina Cup round-robin games, with four teams, including the table leaders, North Carolina, finishing their final games today. The table will look a whole lot clearer after today before the finals on April 12. Here is a rundown of today’s four Carolina Cup games:
Virginia Tech at NC State
This is a pivotal game to decide the finals, as NC State is four points behind North Carolina with a game in hand. Virginia Tech can catch NC State with a win and could end up second at the end of the day if other results go their way. Tech’s Chase Vazquez had a brace against UNCG last week and will be looking to keep his strong form going. Caden Tolentino and Riley Maloney are State’s goalscorers so far in the tournament. Both teams have been stout defensively, as each has only allowed one goal against.
UNCW at South Carolina
South Carolina will feel they need a win to have a chance to get into the Carolina Cup finals, as both NC State and Virginia Tech have a game in hand. UNCW will be looking for a result to get them out of last place in the table as they aim for a higher seed in their final placement game. Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez (2 goals), Matthew DeJianne, and Adolfo Feoli are the Gamecocks’ goal scorers so far, while Grady Lewis and Osei Gyamfi have scored for Wilmington.
UNC at High Point
North Carolina hits the road to try and clinch the top spot, while High Point looks to put their name back in that hat as a Carolina Cup Finals contender after dropping points last weekend. Carolina’s Bertil Hansen leads the Golden Boot race with six goals and will look to add to his tally tonight. High Point’s goal scorers in the tournament are Nick Sarantakos, Anthony Ramirez, and Aidan Morrison.
Campbell at Duke
Campbell will be visiting Duke and is looking to stop the bleeding after two straight losses, while the Blue Devils are looking to jump the table and give themselves a chance to make the finals in their final-round game against Virginia Tech on April 4. Duke’s Ulfur Bjornsson (4 goals) will be looking to push Carolina’s Hansen for the Golden Boot.
