University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Soccer Game Notes
December 15, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Dec. 15, 2001
No. 7 seed North Carolina (20-4-0)
vs.
No. 4 seed Indiana (18-3-1)
Date & Time: 1 p.m., Friday, December 16, 2001
Site: Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
TV: ESPN
Tar Heels Making First College Cup Championship Game Appearance in School History
Coming off three straight overtime wins, seventh-seeded North Carolina will face fourth-seeded Indiana on Sunday in the finals of the NCAA Men's College Cup in Columbus, Ohio. The game will be played at 1 p.m. at Crew Stadium.
The Tar Heels are making their first appearance in the natianal championship game. This season marks UNC's third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and second all-time appearance in the national semifinals (1987 and 2001).
Three Straight Overtime Wins
After not playing an overtime game all season, Carolina has won its last three NCAA Tournament games, all of which went to extra periods.
In the third round, UNC edged American, 1-0, in one OT on a goal by Mike Gell. In the quarterfinals, Carolina defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 3-2, in the third overtime on an own goal. And in Friday night's College Cup semifinal, the Tar Heels defeated Stanford, 3-2, in the fourth overtime on a Mike Gell game-winner.
Carolina has played a grueling 262 minutes in its last two wins (over Fairleigh Dickinson and Stanford).
An NCAA First - Carolina Men and Women Both Reach NCAA Championship Game in 2001
Carolina's men's and women's soccer teams both reached the NCAA College Cup title game this season, marking the first time in NCAA history that one school has had both its men's and women's teams reach the NCAA Tournament championship game in the same season.
The UNC women lost to Santa Clara last weekend in the women's championship game.
UNC Men and Women in 2001 College Cup
For the 10th time in NCAA history, a school's men's and women's soccer teams have both reached the NCAA College Cup in the same season. The Tar Heel women reached the College Cup last weekend, losing 1-0 to Santa Clara in the championship game. Meanwhile, the UNC men have reached the finals of the NCAA Tournament and will play Indiana on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.
North Carolina has pulled off the men's and women's double twice. The Tar Heels also pulled off the feat in 1987.
Years in which schools have placed both their men's and women's teams in the soccer Final Fours the same year are: Connecticut in 1982, Connecticut in 1983, North Carolina in 1987, Santa Clara in 1989, Virginia in 1991, Duke in 1992, Portland in 1995, Santa Clara in 1998, Santa Clara in 1999 and North Carolina in 2001.
Leitch, Yamauchi Break UNC Record for Games Played
Seniors Chris Leitch and Noz Yamauchi have each played in 87 career games at Carolina, breaking the previous school record of 86 set by Ricky Marvin (1978-81) and Steve Dragisics (1984-87).
Leitch has tied the school record for most career starts with 86 (tying Dragisics). If, as expected, Leitch is in the starting lineup versus Indiana on Sunday, he will break the record with his 87th career start.
Carolina vs. Indiana
Indiana leads the all-time series with Carolina, 2-1, including a 1-0 edge in NCAA Tournament play. The Hoosiers defeated the Tar Heels, 1-0, in the 2000 NCAA Tournament quarterfinals in Chapel Hill. In 1988, Indiana defeated Carolina, 2-0, in the first game of the season, and in 1994, UNC defeated the Hoosiers, 2-1, in the Indiana Met Life/adidas Classic.
Homecoming for Leitch
The 2001 College Cup is a homecoming for Tar Heel senior defender Chris Leitch. One of the top marking backs in the nation, Leitch is a native of Baltimore, Ohio. He attended Pickerington High School and was named the Ohio player of the year as a senior in 1997.
Tar Heels Advance to NCAA Title Game with 3-2 Win Over Stanford
Junior Mike Gell scored the game-winning goal in the 136th minute on Friday night as Carolina came back from a 2-0 deficit with under 10 minutes to play in regulation and defeated Stanford, 3-2, in the 2001 NCAA College Cup semifinal on Friday evening.
The Tar Heels trailed the Cardinal, 2-0, until David Testo scored from 19 yards out at the 80:31 mark to make it 2-1 Stanford. Just over a minute later, Matt Crawford scored from close range after a frenzied series in front of the Cardinal goal to tie the game at 2-2 at the 81:35 mark.
After three scoreless overtimes, Gell lifted a shot over Stanford keeper Andrew Terris from six yards out to win the game and send UNC to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA title game. Prior to this season, the Tar Heels had reached the NCAA College Cup just once, losing 4-1 to Clemson in the semifinals on the Tigers' home field.
