Blacksburg, Va. – No. 18 North Carolina traveled to Blacksburg and topped No. 8 Virginia Tech, 3-1, in its ACC opener to improve to 3-1-1 on the season and 2-0 on the road in 2019. Jelani Pieters powered the Tar Heel offense with a goal and assist to help the Heels to its third consecutive win, and seventh consecutive win over the Hokies.
The Heels and the Hokies spent the first 15 minutes of the game locked in a midfield battle as neither side looked could find a decent look on goal. Jeremy Kelly fired the first dangerous shot of the night in the 17th minute as he beat his defender in the box, but his shot was off target as he tried to go near post on the goalkeeper.