University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Soccer Tops UMass, 2-0, in Exhibition
August 25, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 25, 2001
CHICOPEE, Mass. - The fifth-ranked University of North Carolina men's soccer team topped Massachusetts, 2-0, on Saturday night in the first exhibition action of the 2001 season for both teams.
The Tar Heels got on the board early in the affair with goals from Mike Gell in the second minute of the contest and Ryan Kneipper in the tenth minute.
Gell's goal came after junior Bryan O'Quinn stopped a Noz Yamauchi shot. Gell hit a shot in the top corner off the rebound. Kneipper's tally came just eight minutes later as freshman Tim Merritt provided a scoring opportunity with a beautiful assist.
After the early outburst by UNC, UMass played a solid 80 minutes. The Minutemen had several scoring opportunities in the second half, giving the crowd of 1,017 something to cheer about.
UMass' best chance to put something past Tar Heel goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey came when Jeff Deren put a shot off the post in the 69th minute.
The Tar Heels will begin regular-season play next weekend when they host East Carolina and Appalachian State on Friday and Monday evenings.
Scoring: UMass: None. UNC: Mike Gell (unassisted), 2:00, Ryan Kneipper
(Tim Merritt), 9:32.
Shots: UMass: 13. UNC: 9.
Saves: UMass: Bryan O1Quinn (72:00),2, Enzo Altomare (18:00), 0. UNC:
Michael Ueltschey (90:00), 4.
Corner Kicks: UMass: 3. UNC: 6.
