North Carolina became the first team to book its ticket for the NCAA Men’s College Cup in Santa Barbara on Friday night.
The Tar Heels defeated SMU 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout in an Elite Eight soccer match in Chapel Hill, N.C. The teams battled to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.
Jalil Anibaba, a Californian from Davis and a transfer from Santa Clara, scored the deciding penalty kick that put the Tar Heels into their third straight College Cup. They lost in the semifinals last year and in the final in 2008.
Michael Farfan, a San Diego native and a transfer from Cal State Fullerton, scored the first goal in the shootout for North Carolina (17-3-3).
SMU hit the cross bar in its first penalty-kick attempt and North Carolina goalkeeper Scott Goodwin stopped the Mustangs’ third attempt.
It was the third straight tourney win by a shootout for North Carolina. The Tar Heels defeated Michigan State 5-4 and Georgetown 5-4 in third and second rounds.
SMU (16-2-2) took a 1-0 lead in fourth minute on a goal by Arthur Ivo. Kirk Urso equalized for North Carolina in the 10th minute.
The other three spots for the College Cup will be filled Saturday. Cal plays at Akron, UCLA visits Louisville and Michigan is at Maryland.
The College Cup will be played Dec. 10 and 12 at UCSB’s Harder Stadium.
