Three Tar Heels Earn All-ACC Honors
November 9, 2004 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2004
GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina senior forward Marcus Storey earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference men's soccer accolades for the second straight season to highlight five Tar Heels honored by the league office Tuesday. Senior defender Tim Merritt and sophomore midfielder/forward Corey Ashe were named to the second team, while rookie defenders Andre Sherard and Adam Sloustcher were selected to the All-ACC Freshmen Team.
Storey, who garnered all-conference accolades for the first time in his career a year ago, is the Tar Heels' leading scorer for the second consecutive season. He has 18 points on the year on six goals and six assists. Storey scored twice in the win at Elon on October 13 and currently stands tied for eighth all-time at Carolina with 29 goals scored. A native of Missouri City, Texas, Storey was the 2001 ACC Freshman of the Year and helped the Tar Heels to their first national title that season.
A second-team choice a year ago, Merritt has been outstanding on both sides of the ball this season for Carolina. In addition to anchoring the Tar Heel defense from his middle back position, the Gig Harbor, Wash., native ranks fourth on the team with 10 points on four assists and three goals, including the game-winner against NC State on October 24. Carolina's vocal leader, Merritt is a co-captain this season along with Ray Fumo. He has started all 18 matches this season.
A member of the All-ACC Freshmen team a year ago, Ashe leads the Tar Heels with eight goals, including two in last Sunday's win at Clemson. A starter in all 18 games this season, Ashe also has a team-best three game-winning goals. He was named ACC Player of the Week on September 6 after scoring two goals at the season-opening Ohio State Classic.
Sherard and Sloustcher have been an important part of the Tar Heel defense, which gelled over the second half of the season and has allowed just six goals in the last nine matches. Sherard, who is from Greenville, N.C., is one of three Tar Heels to start all 18 matches this season and has one assist. Sloutscher, from Pleasanton, Calif., has made 15 starts this year, mainly on the back line and has scored one goal, the game-winner versus Virginia on September 26.
Wake Forest and Maryland each had four selections on the all-conference teams, while Carolina, Duke, Clemson and Virginia each had three selections. The Demon Deacons' Scott Sealy was named offensive player of the year, and Michael Parkhurst was tabbed defensive player of the year. Duke's Michael Videira claimed freshman of the year honors, and Wake's Jay Vidovich was named coach of the year.
The selections were based on voting by the league's eight head coaches.
Carolina opens the 2004 ACC Championship against NC State Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Cary's SAS Soccer Complex.
