PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Max Fisher’s second-half finish carried North Carolina past No. 7 Pittsburgh by a 1-0 score on Friday night, stretching the Tar Heels’ winning streak to five on the road at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Bertil Rygaard Hansen slipped a square ball into Fisher’s path in the 51st minute, and Fisher drove a low shot past the keeper for the match’s only goal. Carolina controlled the shot chart 13-3 and kept Pitt off the scoreboard for the first time in nine games.
The Heels moved to 7-2-3 overall and 3-1-2 in the ACC. Pittsburgh dropped to 8-3-2 and 3-2-1, ending a six-match unbeaten stretch.
North Carolina threatened early when Joschi Schelb released Rygaard Hansen, only to see the first look saved. Schelb later forced another strong stop late. Alan Rutkowski collected his fourth shutout of the season in goal.
Fisher’s strike was his first goal this fall and the sixth of his career. Rygaard Hansen’s helper was his sixth assist of the year. Pitt’s own schedule page listed the Oct. 16 home result as a 0-1 loss to North Carolina.
The Heels return to ACC play looking to keep the streak alive, while Pittsburgh prepares for a home date with Georgetown next on the calendar. Carolina’s road form has been a hallmark of the five-game run, with the defense matching the attack stride for stride.
Supporters following the Tar Heels from Chapel Hill will see another ranked test soon, and the shutout against a top-10 side is the kind of result that shapes seedings later this fall for both ACC contenders chasing March bids across the league table.
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