Jamie Dell scored twice, including the game winner as No. 22 UNCW topped ninth-ranked UNC 4-3 before a UNCW Soccer Stadium attendance record of 2,613 on Tuesday.
The Seahawks ran their winning streak to six straight and improved to 8-1-1, while the Tar Heels dropped their third consecutive outing and fell to 5-4.
UNCW also improved to 4-0 this season against nationally ranked opponents.
Dell, who now has six goals on the season, gave the Seahawks the lead in the 52nd minute and would notch his team-leading fourth game winner of the season in the 80th minute.
UNC opened the scoring in the eighth minute as Walker Hume took a cross from Rob Lovejoy on the leftside and flicked his shot inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.
Newcomer Alexander Schlobohm drew the Seahawks even in the 36th minute with a shot from the top of the penalty area on the right side. His shot knuckled past UNC goalkeeper Brendan Moore and inside the far left post.
On Dell’s first strike of the evening, a pass chipped into open area allowed him to race with the ball almost 40 yards on the right flank before he cut the ball back to the middle of the field and past the keeper for the goal.
Colin Bonner then netted his third goal when he was on the open end of a short pass from Daniel Escobar in the 62nd minute for a 3-1 Seahawk lead.
Verneri Valimaa cut the deficit to 3-2 for the Tar Heels when he weaved his way through the UNCW defense and scored on a shot inside the right post.
Dell’s second strike of the game came in the 80th minute off a short pass from Freddy Nzekele. Dell’s shot from the top of the penalty area sailed into the left side of the goal for a 4-2 lead.
Trailing 4-2 in the 85th minute, Alan Winn made it a one-goal game for the Tar Heels.
UNCW held a 13-10 advantage in shots and a 6-4 lead in corners.
The Seahawks host 23rd-ranked Delaware on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
