University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 12 Tar Heels Visit No. 16 Virginia
September 23, 1999 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 23, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The North Carolina men's soccer team will travel to Charlottesville, Va., this weekend to face Atlantic Coast Conference rival Virginia Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. The Tar Heels haven't beaten the Cavaliers in Charlottesville since 1977 and have lost 10 straight games to UVa on their home field, going 0-10-1 during that span. Carolina tied the Cavaliers, 1-1, in Charlottesville in 1979.
Overall, Carolina has lost 20 of its last 23 games to Virginia, defeating the Wahoos in 1987 and 1994 and tying them in 1996.
Carolina is led offensively by sophomore forward Chris Carrieri, who leads the Tar Heels in goals (five) and scoring (12 points) this season, junior midfielder Michael Bucy (3g-5a-11pts.) and junior forward Caleb Norkus (3g-0a-6pts.). The Tar Heels' strong young defensive corps has allowed just eight goals in seven games and sophomore goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey ranks third in the ACC with a 0.83 goals-against average. UNC is 6-0 this year in games Ueltschey has started in goal.
Carolina Riding Five-Game Winning Streak
The Tar Heels enter Saturday's contest with Virginia having won five consecutive games for the first time since winning eight straight during the 1994 season.
Tar Heels Off to Best Start Since 1995
Carolina is off to a 6-1 start this season, its best start since opening the 1995 season with an identical, 6-1 mark. The last time UNC got off to a better start was 1991, when it opened the season 7-0-1.
The Series with the Cavaliers
Carolina is 27-26-7 all-time against Virginia but has lost 20 of its last 23 games againt st UVa. UNC head coach Elmar Bolowich is 1-13-1 in 15 career games against the Cavaliers.
In the National Rankings
In this week's national rankings, Carolina is ranked No. 12 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, No. 18 by Soccer America and No. 17 by Soccer Times (as of Sept. 20). Virginia is ranked No. 16, No. 17 and No. 15 by the same polls. The last time the Tar Heels were ranked as high as No. 12 nationally was Oct. 7, 1996, when they reached No. 12 in the nation after tying No. 2 Virginia and defeating No. 4 Duke in an eight-day span.
Young Heels Growing Up on the Field
The Tar Heel roster features just three seniors and eight upperclassmen overall, but Carolina has come together and played cohesively this season despite its inexperience. Seven of Carolina's regular starters this season are either freshmen or sophomores. Last season, with just one senior and a starting lineup dominated by freshmen, UNC went 11-6-2 to post its best season in several years.
This year, the Tar Heels have outscored their opponents, 20-8, taken more than twice the number of shots (103 to 50) of its opponents and allowed one goal or less in five of their seven contests.
Fast Facts
The Heels have gotten off to quick starts often this year, outscoring their opponents, 13-5, in the first half in 1999 ... The Tar Heels are 3-0 at home, 2-1 away and 1-0 at neutral sites ... Carolina is 5-0 when leading at halftime and 1-1 when trailing at intermission.
Head Coach Elmar Bolowich
Now in his 11th season as Carolina's head coach, Elmar Bolowich has a career coaching record of 113-79-12, all at UNC. Bolowich has led the Tar Heels to four NCAA appearances.
Among the ACC Leaders
(as of Sept. 20)
Chris Carrieri: tied fourth in points, tied third in goals
Michael Bucy: third in points, tied second in assists
Michael Ueltschey: third in GAA, second in saves
Tar Heel Honors
Soccer America Team of the Week: Caleb Norkus (Sept. 20)Nike Carolina Classic All-Tournament Team: Michael Bucy, Joey DiSalvo, Caleb Norkus, David Popp
Nike Carolina Classic Team MVP: Michael Bucy
