University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Soccer Outlook
August 1, 2000 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 1, 2000
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Having returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1999 for the first time in five seasons, the North Carolina men's soccer team turned the corner in its rebuilding process and now is poised for another NCAA run in 2000. The Tar Heels, led by 12th-year head coach Elmar Bolowich, return eight starters from a young 1999 team and now boast an experienced roster laden with juniors and seniors.
Last fall, the Tar Heels went 12-7-1 and reached the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals despite a roster that featured just eight upperclassmen. Carolina took No. 3-ranked Furman to overtime on the road before losing, 2-1, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
"Making the NCAA Tournament last year was a tremendous boost to the program, and also a tremendous boost to the players and coaching staff," says Bolowich. "We played very well on a tough field but lost at Furman in the first round. We had our chances in that game, but we kept our heads up afterward and that loss will help this year's team, should it reach the NCAA Tournament."
The Tar Heels should be considered a strong candidate for postseason play in 2000. Carolina's eight returning starters are led by first-team All-ACC forward Chris Carrieri, a junior who last year tied for second in the ACC with 12 goals and third with 29 points. Senior Caleb Norkus, who tied for fifth in the conference with nine goals in 1999, also returns to the front line.
A trio of experienced midfielders ? senior academic All-America Michael Bucy, junior Matt Laycock and junior Noz Yamauchi also return. Bucy and Yamauchi were among the ACC's top assist men in 1999, and Laycock controls the flow of Carolina's attack on the field as the team's co-captain. Sophomore Matt Crawford started 13 games last year as a freshman and also returns to the midfield.
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The defense will be guided by junior co-captain Danny Jackson, who was named second-team All-ACC a season ago. Junior Chris Leitch is among the ACC's best one-on-one defenders and should be an emotional leader on the field for Bolowich's Tar Heels.
"This team is more experienced than what we've had in several years, and the players should expect more from themselves," Bolowich says. "They all get along great with each other. If each of them has the highest expectations of themselves as individuals, then the team will do better. There are no shortcuts in being a championship team, that's the bottom line. The hard work has to start in the heat of the preseason and continue all season long. As our guys realize that we're not cutting corners here at Carolina, that we're doing things the right way and working hard for our goals, then this program will take a huge step forward."
Bolowich and his staff have recruited a talented group of incoming freshmen that ranks among the best in his 12 years as Carolina's head coach.
"We've really improved our depth with this recruiting class," says Bolowich. "We've got players coming in and competing for positions whereas in the past some players had positions almost guaranteed to them. Everybody on this team has to put forth the effort in practice to earn a starting spot. I'm particularly excited about the fact that four of the six kids coming in are in-state products, and all four could potentially start."
With a bevy of experienced returnees, a talented freshman class and NCAA Tournament experience under its belt, the 2000 Tar Heel squad hopes to continue its push to be among the nation's elite programs. With a thrilling, 1-0 overtime win over Clemson in the ACC Tournament first round last fall, UNC reached the conference semifinals for the first time in four years and earned an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in five seasons. Bolowich expects the Tar Heels to improve on both counts in 2000.
"My hope is that we be in a position to fight for an ACC championship, that we will not just earn an NCAA bid but advance in the NCAA Tournament," Bolowich says. "Our strength of schedule helped us get in last year, and we've got a tough schedule again this year. We play eight teams this fall that made the NCAA Tournament last year, and two more teams that barely missed making the NCAA field. It's going to be exciting."
The following is a position-by-position look at the 2000 Tar Heels.
Goalkeepers
In junior Michael Ueltschey, who started 16 of Carolina's 20 games in 1999, and senior Brad Thomas, who started the other four contests, the Tar Heels return experience and talent in the goal.
Ueltschey posted six shutouts as a junior and improved as the season progressed. He ranked third in the ACC with a 1.04 goals-against average, and Carolina went 10-5-1 in games he started in goal. After transferring from UNC Charlotte three years ago, Thomas started the first four games of his Tar Heel career in 1999. Two of those starts came against ranked opponents, and Thomas has the ability to succeed as a starter at Carolina. Bolowich hopes that either Ueltschey or Thomas continues to improve and stakes his claim on the starting job in goal.
"The goalkeeper position is still a little bit of a question mark as far as who will come in and give us the most consistency and dominance back there," says Bolowich. "I would like to see either Michael Ueltschey or Brad Thomas step it up and seize that starting job. Both of them have the tools to do it. It's just a matter of who wants it the most and who proves to be the most reliable day-in and day-out."
Freshman Jay Batt has potential in the goal and could contribute as he gains collegiate experience.
Defenders
Carolina's defense improved as the 1999 season progressed. The Tar Heels held 13 of 20 opponents to one goal or less in 1999, going 10-2-1 in those games. Still, Bolowich says there is room for improvement.
"Defensively we got better over the course of last year but we need to get better," he says. "We allowed too many goals, especially on restarts and rebounds when we weren't aggressive enough."
The leader of the UNC defense is junior Danny Jackson, a Second-Team All-ACC choice a season ago. The Leeds, England, native has been voted Carolina's team MVP by his teammates in each of the last two years and will serve as the team's co-captain for the second season in a row this fall.
"Danny is definitely a tremendous player," Bolowich says. "As a team captain, he needs to take more of an active role in directing traffic and protecting himself by organizing our team on the field. He's a very smart player and we want to give him a little more freedom and mobility out there."
Junior Chris Leitch is among the ACC's best defenders and often draws the assignment of marking the opposing team's best players. His teammates voted him Carolina's most improved player and he was one of only five players to start all 20 games in 1999. An emotional player, he will be asked to help fill the void left by the graduation of four-year starter Joey DiSalvo.
"Chris Leitch is consistent, positive and a battler," says Bolowich. "He's ready to be a vocal leader for us the way Joey was."
The left back position is still a question mark for the Tar Heels because of the departure of two-year starter Jon Wean. The candidates include senior Eddie Robinson and two freshmen ? David Stokes and Andrew Moon.
"Stokes has a lot of experience as a national champion with his club team," Bolowich says. "The college game is a lot faster and more physical than what most freshmen are used to, and our job as coaches is to ease the transition of these freshmen. Andrew Moon is another freshman who we recruited as a defender. He has an opportunity to prove himself but may lack the experience right now that he'll need to be a contributor right away. We might be able to shift some other players around to help at left back, and Eddie is one of those guys if he's improved his endurance."
Midfielders
The Tar Heels return a lot of experience in the midfield, including junior Matt Laycock, UNC's co-captain for the second year in a row, and two of the ACC's assist leaders in senior Michael Bucy and junior Noz Yamauchi. Laycock has been hampered by knee injuries over the last two seasons but hopes to stay healthy in 2000.
"Laycock is the guy who sets things up in the midfield for us," Bolowich says. "When he's on the field, he can score and he has a calming effect on the team. He changes the flow of the game and helps us control the pace of the game. He's been battered by so many setbacks and injuries, I'm looking forward to him being healthy. He will be a force to be reckoned with this year."
Yamauchi tied for third in the ACC with nine assists and 0.45 assists per game last year.
"Noz is a player who moves the entire game," says Bolowich. "We have to utilize his strengths. He's very quick, he can break free of an opponent, he can hold the ball, set things up and make things happen. Noz is a great assist guy."
Bucy tied for the ACC lead in assists in 1999 with 10 and as a two-time Academic All-America, is among the ACC's more cerebral players. His 6-3, 195-pound frame makes him effective in front of the goal.
"Bucy's assists usually come off of restarts when he's really pushed up forward," Bolowich says. "He has a knack of finding a spot and being in the right place at the right time to make a play."
Sophomore Matt Crawford started 13 games in 1999, including the last 11 contests. He had a goal and four assists as a freshman. Senior Carson Porter has started 26 career games and also returns. He will be joined in the Carolina midfield by his younger brother, Grant, who was one of the nation's top high school seniors a year ago. Robinson, who could also see time at defender, has played mostly in the midfield last year and could also contribute.
Forwards
Carolina's offense scored 51 goals in 1999, finishing second in the ACC in total goals and goals per game. The 51 goals were the most scored by a UNC team since 1995.
"Our finishing still needs to improve on offense," Bolowich says. "We could have advanced further last year if we'd taken better advantage of our opportunities and scored a few more goals. If a team is struggling, having trouble scoring goals, and that one guy is able to put the ball in the net, then it can help the rest of the team gain confidence."
Carolina's offensive leader in 2000 should again be junior Chris Carrieri, the 1998 ACC Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-ACC choice last season. A third-team All-America in 1999, Carrieri finished second in the ACC in goals with 12 and tied for third in points with 29. He should be a candidate for further All-America honors this fall.
"With Chris Carrieri leading the charge up front, you know you're getting a player who is very determined, who wants to score badly, who wants the team to win and puts forth the effort," says Bolowich. "He's a guy we can count on."
Senior Caleb Norkus has been one of the ACC's top offensive threats for three seasons and he tied for fifth in the ACC with nine goals last year.
"Caleb is a senior now and has really matured," says Bolowich. "He has turned some games around for us in the past and had a really good spring. We're looking for Caleb to provide more scoring up front and be a solid duo with Carrieri."
Other possible contributors up front include sophomores Mike Gell and Ryan Kneipper and freshmen Sean McGinty and Logan Pause.
"Mike Gell worked with the U.S. National program during the offseason and I think that boosted his confidence," Bolowich says. "He has speed, skill, a tremendous shot, but needs more consistency and mental toughness. Kneipper played well in stretches last year and has improved as well."
