WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (October 7, 2026) – In a highly anticipated rematch of last year's NCCAA South Regional Championship, the Carolina University Men's Soccer team had redemption on its mind Wednesday night as the Bruins welcomed Columbia International University (CIU) for a 7 p.m. showdown at Truist Sports Park. After falling to the Rams in last season's regional final, Carolina University entered Wednesday's matchup with a new-look roster and something to prove.
Behind goals from Will McCamley and Kyryl Dmytryk, along with a strong defensive performance, the Bruins secured a 2-0 shutout victory over CIU, improving their overall record to 8-2-1.
Both programs entered the contest with different rosters and a fresh opportunity to establish themselves. Despite the significance of last season's meeting, the Bruins remained focused on the task at hand and delivered a complete team performance.
Carolina University broke through in the 25th minute when Will McCamley found the back of the net at the 24:37 mark. Mateusz Zaparuszewski provided the assist as McCamley recorded his eighth goal of the season, giving the Bruins an early 1-0 advantage.
The Bruins carried that momentum into halftime, maintaining their one-goal lead while limiting CIU to just three first-half shot attempts.
Carolina wasted little time extending its advantage after the break. Just over four minutes into the second half, Kyryl Dmytryk scored his sixth goal of the season at the 49:05 mark, once again assisted by Zaparuszewski. The goal doubled Carolina's lead to 2-0 and put the Bruins firmly in control.
Despite facing increased offensive pressure from CIU throughout the second half, the Carolina defense remained composed. The Rams registered 11 second-half shots, but the Bruins held strong to preserve the shutout.
Goalkeeper Isaac Bunton played all 90 minutes in goal, recording three goalkeeper saves, while defender Tlotlo Lekobane contributed a crucial defensive save in the second half to help keep CIU off the scoreboard.
The Bruins finished the evening with 13 total shots, including five on goal, while CIU registered 14 shots. McCamley led Carolina with four shot attempts, while Zaparuszewski played a key role in the attack, assisting on both goals.
For Carolina University Head Coach Craig Golding, Wednesday's victory represented an important step forward for a program looking to build momentum as the season progresses.
Head Coach Craig Golding commented on the victory:
"Last year's regional final was a tough result for our program, but this is a new year with a new group of players who are determined to write their own story. I thought our guys came out with great energy, executed our game plan, and showed tremendous discipline throughout the match. Scoring early and then adding another goal right after halftime was huge for us. I'm especially proud of the way we defended as a team and earned the clean sheet. This is a great result against a quality opponent, but we know there is still plenty of work ahead of us."
Up Next
The Bruins will return to action on Saturday, October 10, when Carolina University welcomes Shaw University for a men's and women's soccer doubleheader.
The Carolina University Women's Soccer team will open the afternoon with a 2 p.m. kickoff, followed by the Men's Soccer team taking the field against the Bears at 5 p.m.
The Bruins will look to carry the momentum from Wednesday's shutout victory into Saturday's matchup as they continue their push through the 2026 season.
