The first half was played fairly even between the two clubs. Each team had five shots and both keepers made two saves in the opening 45 minutes.
The difference was UCLA’s All-America midfielder Leo Stolz found the back of the net in the 31st minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at intermission.
A long ball played to the top of the 18-yard box brought UNC keeper Brendan Moore well of his line. The ricocheted ball found the foot of Stolz and with the goal area fully exposed, the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year slotted a shot off the left post and into the net.
That proved to be the game winner as Carolina was unable to shake a very compact and composed Bruin back line.
Carolina held a 10-7 shot advantage with midfielder Omar Holness owning half of the Tar Heel attempts.
Moore made three saves on the night, while UCLA keeper Earl Edwards made a pair of stops.
Carolina will play next Friday at Old Dominion and Sunday at Virginia Commonwealth. Both matches kick at 7 p.m.