CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Sheanon Williams’ late unassisted goal proved to the game-winner Wednesday night, as the No. 15 North Carolina Tar Heels claimed a 2-1 victory over the visiting Elon Phoenix at Fetzer Field. 
 
In addition to the offensive output from Williams and Brian Shriver who also netted a goal, senior goalkeeper Jacob Wescoe made five saves for the Tar Heels (6-1-1) and preserved the win with a penalty kick stop in the 86th minute.
 
With the match tied at one, Williams’ 81st-minute goal capped a flurry of action for Carolina and opened a dramatic final 10 minutes. One minute before the go-ahead score, Garry Lewis and Williams fired back-to-back shots that resulted in a Michael Callahan corner kick that found Williams on the left side of the net.
 
Elon goalkeeper Kyle Boerner came out to challenge Williams but could not corral the ball. Williams then sent the ball off a Phoenix defender before muscling it into the left side of the open net from five yards out for a 2-1 advantage and his first collegiate goal.
 
The lead could have been short-lived, as Elon (2-5-1) was awarded a penalty kick in the 86th minute after a UNC foul on a scramble in the box following a corner. Will Mason sent the PK to Wescoe’s right but he punched it out to preserve the one-goal lead.
 
Following the PK attempt, play intensified with five yellow cards awarded over the final four minutes of play, but the Tar Heels did not concede another shot attempt and held on for the victory.
 
Carolina posted a 22-9 advantage in shots, but Elon held an 8-7 edge in corners. In addition to Wescoe’s solid play in goal, Boerner made eight saves for the Phoenix. 
 
UNC controlled play throughout the first half and finally found the back of the net on a Shriver strike in the 35th minute. Shriver and midfielder Kirk Urso played give-and-go down the left-hand side of the field with Shriver finishing from 12 yards out into the lower right-hander corner of the net.
 
Shriver’s goal was his third of the season, while Urso notched his third assist to grab a share of the team lead.
 
Elon answered just over five minutes later on Justin Wyatt’s third goal of the season on just the third shot of the night for the Phoenix. Erfan Imeni served a corner kick from the left side of the field past the mouth of the goal to Wyatt, who flicked the ball over his head and into the net for the equalizer in the 41st minute.