CARY, N.C. (theACC.com) – The University of Louisville would not be denied this time.
 
Cherif Dieye’s goal in the 29th minute was the only goal the Cardinals needed to defeat No. 2 seed North Carolina, 1-0, in the title game and win their first Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Championship on Sunday at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
 
“I was so happy to see the zeros show up on the clock,” said Louisville head coach Ken Lolla. “The last time we were here we probably should have won it but didn’t handle the last seconds of it well. This has grown into a mature team and they did what they needed to close it out.”

Louisville was making its second appearance in the ACC title game after the 2014 Championship, in which the Cardinals held a 1-0 lead till the 89:57 mark, only to see Clemson score the equalizer to send the game to overtime. The Tigers scored the game winner in the 105^th minute and walked away with the 2014 ACC title.
 
It proved to be a different outcome in 2018 for the Cardinals.
 
Louisville’s goal came at the 28:35 mark after service in to the 18-yard box deflected off the head of a Carolina defender to the foot of senior forward Tate Schmitt, who distributed to Dieye. The junior from Dakar, Senegal, put the ball past North Carolina goalkeeper James Pyle for the what turned out to be the game-winner on his 21st birthday.
 
“Everyone worked hard to get that goal. I just scored the game winner, my teammates won the whole game because they defended very well and did what they had to do. I couldn’t ask for a better gift for my 21st birthday,” said Dieye.
 
North Carolina nearly tied the game minutes later when Lucas del Rosario sent the ball across the goal mouth from the far side, but Cardinal defender Cody Conchran was able to head it off the goal line and keep the Tar Heels off the board.
 
The Tar Heels continued to pressure in the second half, taking six shots, putting three on goal, and were awarded three corner kick opportunities.

Louisville sophomore goalkeeper Jake Gelnovatch finished the game with four saves. Gelnovatch totaled eight saves for the tournament and was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team for his efforts. Along with Gelnovatch, Louisville’s Lamine Conte, Dieye and Schmitt were named to the all-tournament team with Schmitt garnering most valuable player honors.
 
“With a one goal lead early in the second half, we wanted to play the same the same way we played in the first half and looked to get the second goal,” Lolla said. “As the half went on, we put the onus on them and forced them to break us down. I thought our guys did a pretty good job once we were back behind it or closing spaces and make it difficult for them to create opportunities.”
 
“To win championships you have to be really good defensively,” added Lolla. “Looking at Notre Dame, Wake Forest and UNC, to give up only one goal in those three (ACC Championship) games, we are growing to be a good defensive team. We are a tough team to break down, and I think that’s important for any tournament you are in.”
 
The ACC now turns its attention to the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 1 p.m., where the league looks to get nine teams in the tournament for the third straight year.
 
2018 ACC Men’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Will Pulisic, Duke
Brandon Williamson, Duke
Lamine Conte, Louisville
Cherif Dieye, Louisville
Ziyad Fekri, Louisville
Jake Gelnovatch, Louisville
Tate Schmitt, Louisville – MVP
Nils Bruening, North Carolina
Alex Comsia, North Carolina
John Nelson, North Carolina
Machop Chol, Wake Forest
Sam Raben, Wake Forest