University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Soccer Solidifies Top-10 Rankings
October 3, 2000 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 3, 2000
The North Carolina men's soccer team, fresh off a win at No. 5 Duke, is a consensus Top-10 choice in this week's various national soccer polls, released late on Monday.
Carolina (8-2, 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) is ranked No. 9 by Soccer America, No. 10 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and No. 8 by SoccerTimes.com. Carolina was ranked No. 12, No. 17 and No. 15, respectively, in those polls last week.
The Tar Heels, who this season are off to their best start since beginning the 1994 campaign 10-2, are led by goal-scoring forward Chris Carrieri and an improved defense.
Carrieri is making a strong run for All-America honors, leading UNC with nine goals, four assists, 22 points, five game-winning goals and 45 shots. He ranks among the ACC leaders in goals and scoring. Seniors Michael Bucy, Caleb Norkus and Eddie Robinson, junior Noz Yamauchi and freshmen Logan Pause and Sean McGinty all have contributed to a balanced attack featuring 10 different players who have scored goals this season.
The Tar Heel defensive unit has held its opponents to just 10 goals in 10 games. Junior defenders Danny Jackson and Chris Leitch, along with freshman David Stokes, have led the Tar Heel back line, which has shutout four opponents this fall. Junior goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey has started all 10 UNC games this season and is allowing 1.05 goals per game while backup Brad Thomas has yet to allow a goal this year as the backup keeper.
Carolina returns to action on Wednesday evening when it hosts William & Mary at Fetzer Field at 7:00 p.m.
