The UAB men's soccer team pulled off a statement win on Wednesday night, taking down No. 17 North Carolina 2-1 at Dorrance Field. It was the Blazers' first victory over a ranked opponent since 2021, when they defeated No. 18 Kentucky.

North Carolina looked in control early, striking first in the 9th minute when Nacho Abeal finished a well-worked sequence assisted by Bertil Rygaard Hansen and Luca Nikolai. Despite the early setback, UAB regrouped defensively and gradually began to find rhythm on the counterattack.

The Blazers' persistence paid off late in the first half when freshman forward Patrik Fagan provided the equalizer in the 42nd minute. After a scramble in the box, Fagan pounced on a deflection and fired home his second goal of the season, leveling the match at 1-1 heading into halftime.

Early in the second half, UAB's pressure struck again, this time in the form of a North Carolina own goal in the 54th minute. A dangerous ball whipped into the area forced a Tar Heel defender into an errant touch that slipped past the keeper to give UAB a 2-1 lead.

From there, the Blazers leaned on a resilient back line and an outstanding effort from goalkeeper Francisco Ranieri, who made 10 saves to anchor the defense. The senior repeatedly denied the Tar Heels, including several point-blank efforts in the final 15 minutes.

Despite being outshot and holding just 37% possession, UAB's defensive organization and composure under pressure proved decisive. Ole Jessen, Frederik Danslet, and Carson Brice helped marshal a disciplined back line that limited clear chances and cleared a flurry of late crosses.

The win marks UAB's first ranked victory since 2021 and serves as a major confidence boost for a young squad finding its stride late in the season.

UAB improves to 4-7-1 overall, while North Carolina falls to 7-2-4. The Blazers return to conference play next week at No. 22 Florida Atlantic on Oct. 24 at 6:00 p.m. in Boca Raton.