There isn’t a much better way to introduce yourself. After the first 3 matches of their first UPSL season, Tar Devils SC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina have gone 2-1-0 to top the UPSL Division 1 Mid-Atlantic South standings.
Their most recent game away to Mint Hill FC saw a lot of chances and not a lot of goals, finishing 1-1. In the first half, Caleb Bullock got the ball on the left touchline, beat three defenders while driving forward into the box, and slotted the ball past the keeper for an early lead. However, Mint Hill would equalize off a penalty in the second half. The away side saw a lot of chances come their way, some from great ball movement, some from corners, and the majority from dangerous through balls. However, a collection of bad first touches and a late chip over the goalkeeper that bounced just left of the post meant that the Tar Devils weren’t able to be as clinical as they would’ve liked, settling for the point.
The week before, there was no need to settle due to a dominant 4-1 win over Liberty Arsenal International. After some early struggles in the first 10 minutes, a corner was controlled by Johnny McNeill and deflected to Archie Filliter, who slotted it home from close range for the lead. Josh Rutland would join the party soon after, when a long cross from Dante Schuler was flicked on by an Arsenal center back behind the defensive line. Rutland proceeded to chip the keeper as he stormed out of the net, controlled the ball with his chest, took a touch to his right past a retreating defender, and scored. Schuler would grab his second assist off a long throw into the box towards Michael Pasca, who awkwardly put the ball to the keeper’s left near the post as the goalie tried to keep it out (the ref awarded the goal after some hesitation). Pasca’s assist in the second half was much more straightforward, as he chipped it over the backline to Josh Rutland, whose second goal came from finishing the 1v1 opportunity.
The club would miss multiple opportunities to extend their lead from there in the second half, including a few 1v1 and even a 2v1 opportunity, and they would allow a late consolation goal on a defensive mistake after subbing out starters, but the win showed that the Devils’ were a huge threat even when missing chances and had one of the UPSL’s most exciting front lines.
The first game of the season was the beginning of the Tar Devils’ struggles being clinical in front of goal, but it didn’t mean points were dropped. Far from it, in fact; a 5-0 win could’ve been 10-0 against Rush United FC. The first two goals showed the threat of Dante Schuler’s long throw, as the first flew all the way into the 6-yard box with the goalie touching it before it went in. The second was headed in by Bilal Nachet. Nachet picked up his brace by beating a defender dribbling right and powering it past the keeper to score. The game was iced in the second half from not only a 30-yard screamer by Daniel, who ripped a shot over the keeper to the top-center of the net, but also by an assist from the substitute. He turned past a Rush defender, drove the ball towards goal, beat a defender, crossed across goal from the left, and gave Youssef an easy finish. The club was wasteful with 15-20 shots throughout the game, but it was a performance to be proud of.
If you want to see these goals for yourself, all previous match highlights can be found on the club’s Instagram.
Now, the Tar Devils sit tied at the top of the Division 1 Mid-Atlantic with River City FC on 7 points each. The Chapel Hill club leads on goal differential. This Sunday, both sides will face off for first place, and with River City grinding out low-scoring results this season, the Tar Devils must be more clinical against a stronger defensive side.
Come back to the Southeast Soccer Report next week for continued coverage of Tar Devils SC!