RADFORD – While trying to work its way out of a scoring slump, Radford didn't have an easy assignment to work with on Tuesday night.

No. 5 North Carolina scored a pair of first half goals to cruise past the Highlanders 2-0 in non-conference men's soccer at Cupp Stadium.

“They haven't conceded many goals this season and we saw why tonight,” head coach Spencer Smith said.  “I'm a believer that hard work and effort will turn into goals, and when we do what we did for the last 60 minutes in all 90, we will have our chances.”

Playing a ranked opponent at home for the first time since 2002, Radford (2-4-1) got behind in the 8th minute when Billy Schuler beat his defender down the far sideline and ripped a shot into the upper corner of the net to put the Tar Heels (5-1-0) ahead for good, 1-0.

North Carolina added its second of the night in the 21st minute.  Cameron Brown left a pass in the middle for Michael Farfan, who drilled a shot from 25 yards out and in the net to give the Tar Heels a 2-0 advantage.

“I felt like both goals were preventable, but you can't give a team like North Carolina any opportunities,” Smith said.  “On the first we were out of position, and they finished well.  The second was one where we have to have better pressure in that part of the field, especially against these caliber of players.”

Radford was outshot 7-2 in the first half, but got a pair of quality opportunities.   

In the 16th minute, sophomore Iyiola Awosika (London, England/Aylesbury Grammar) got behind the North Carolina defense in the middle of the field, but his one-on-one shot attempt was turned aside by Tar Heel goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty.   

In the final 30 seconds of the period, redshirt sophomore Aldo Macias (Dumfries, Va./Edison) got past his defender on the far side and sent a cross to the goal mouth for junior Mike Handlin (Opal, Va./Liberty-Bealeton), whose shot attempt sailed high.

“I felt like the last sixty minutes was exactly what we've been looking for, in terms of effort,” Smith said.  “If we sustain that focus and intensity, we'll be OK.”

Radford resumes Big South action on Saturday with a 2 p.m. kickoff at Presbyterian.