BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Richard Jata scored the game-winning goal in his fifth-straight match, Aaron Johnson registered his fourth-consecutive shutout and Campbell defeated seventh-ranked North Carolina 2-0 Tuesday night at the Eakes Athletic Complex.

The Camels knocked off the Tar Heels for the third-straight year and in the process extended their win streak to nine matches. The Camels also improved to 7-0-0 at home this year and have not lost since a 3-2 setback Sept. 23 at William & Mary.

Vince Petrasso added his fifth strike of the season for Campbell (11-5-0), which entered the game ranked sixth in this week's NSCAA South Region poll. North Carolina (11-4-1) lost consecutive games for the first time this season, including a 3-2 overtime defeat last Saturday at Clemson.

Johnson, who has not allowed a goal in more than 390 minutes, had three saves – including two spectacular stops in the second half. He was also helped by right back Austin Skakle, who cleared a ball off the line. Johnson, who was named A-Sun defensive player of the week Monday for the third time this year, moved into second place on the Atlantic Sun Conference career record books with his 19th solo shutout.

"North Carolina is an excellent team and I have huge respect for the way they play," said Camel head coach Doug Hess, whose team improved to 4-8 against nationally-ranked opponents under his watch. "That being said, I feel like our team was committed to the way we had to play tonight on both sides of the ball. We made the opportunities we had count, and collectively kept it out of our goal."

UNC finished with a12-5 edge in shots and a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal. However, both of Campbell's attempts on target hit the net.

The Tar Heels appeared to take the lead in the 24th minute when Michael Callahan's corner kick was cleared to the top of the area, where Dustin McCarty's low driving shot found the right side of Johnson's net. However, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call.

Campbell nearly equalized in the 38th minute when Pat Danford poked the ball behind the UNC back line to Stephen Oyuga after a free kick, but the senior defender missed wide on a left-footed attempt in the box.

Just over a minute later, however, the Camels went in front when Jata stole the ball in the UNC third and scored on a right-footed shot from about 28 yards for his sixth goal of the season. He ran his season scoring total to 14 points on six goals and two assists, while tallying his league-leading fifth winner of the year.

The senior midfielder from Port Richey, Fla., who also scored the decisive goal in last year's 2-1 victory at Chapel Hill, moved into a tie for fifth place on the Atlantic Sun Conference career list for game-winning goals (10). Since he joined the CU program in 2006, Campbell stands 17-0-1 in games when Jata scores.

UNC almost equalized in the 43rd minute on Garry Lewis' chip from outside the box, but Johnson stretched to keep the ball out of his net; then recovered the loose ball before the UNC attack could cause damage.

Just 1:28 into the second half, Brian Shriver broke free in the Camel box, but Johnson dove to his left for the save. In the 53rd minute, Lewis did not have to leave his feet for a free header off a corner kick, but his attempt sailed well wide and high of the goal.

Petrasso then delivered on a counter attack in the 56th minute. Justin Madrid sent a pass over the UNC back four and the junior from Woodbridge, Ontario attempted to dribble by UNC keeper Jacob Wescoe, who momentarily knocked the ball away. Petrasso, however, regained possession on the left edge of the box and lofted a right-footed shot into the empty net for his fifth goal of the year.

Campbell threatened again in the 65th minute when Jata's pass split the UNC back four, but Khalil Johnson's left-footed shot went wide of the far post.

Skakle, a junior from Cary, cleared Eddie Ababio's effort in the 69th minute to again preserve Campbell's two goal edge. UNC's best chance thereafter came in the 81st on Billy Schuler's header, but Aaron Johnson against stretched to make the stop.

The crowd of 1187, Campbell's largest since an Eakes Complex record 1857 watched a Homecoming Day victory over Lipscomb, counted down the final seconds; then stormed the field.

"We had a fantastic crowd tonight," said Hess, whose team has not dropped a home contest since Nov. 7, 2007. "I'd like to see it that way every game. Now we have our last regular season home game on Saturday night, and we have the opportunity to honor a senior class that brought a program back."

Campbell concludes its regular season home schedule on Saturday against Mercer in a 7:00 p.m. kick-off. CU enters the match with an 8-0-0 league record and has the opportunity to become the first team in A-Sun history to record nine regular season conference wins in a year. CU also could tie the school Division I era record for consecutive victories as well.

Saturday's match also is the final home regular season appearance for six seniors – Ryan Freeborn, Jata, Aaron Johnson, Josh Kimball, Stephen Oyuga and Kyle Proctor – who are the first CU men's soccer graduating class since 1993 to register four-consecutive winning records.

Campbell2, No. 7 North Carolina 0

Scoring:

CAM (38:23) Richard Jata (unassisted)

CAM (55:34) Vince Petrasso (unassisted)

Shots: UNC 12, Campbell 5

Shots on goal: UNC 4, Campbell 2

Corner Kicks: UNC 7, Campbell 2

Keeper Saves: UNC (Jacob Wescoe) 0, Campbell (Aaron Johnson) 3

Back Saves: Campbell (Austin Skakle) 1

Fouls: UNC 14, Campbell 11

Offside: UNC 6, Campbell 9

Yellow Cards: UNC – Ryan Adeleye (37:07); Campbell – Pat Danford (24:05), Richard Jata (35:07), Vince Petrasso (36:45).

Records: UNC 11-4-1, Campbell 11-5-0

Attendance: 1187