University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Soccer Game Notes
September 27, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 27, 2001
vs.
Duke (4-2, 1-0 ACC)
Date & Time:
Saturday, September 29, 2001, 7 p.m.Site: Fetzer Field (capacity: 5,025, natural grass) in Chapel Hill
Carolina's Series Record vs. Duke: Carolina leads, 33-30-6
Websites: North Carolina (TarHeelBlue.com), Duke (GoDuke.com)
Tar Heels Look to Even ACC Record Saturday Night Versus Duke
No. 14-ranked North Carolina (5-2, 0-1 ACC) opens its 2001 home Atlantic Coast Conference schedule on Saturday night against rival Duke (4-2, 1-0 ACC) at Fetzer Field. Carolina hopes to even its conference record at 1-1 after a 2-0 defeat at Virginia last weekend. Duke beat Maryland, 1-0, in Durham last weekend and is 1-0 in the ACC.
Saturday's game is a Carlyle Cup event.
In This Week's National Rankings
Carolina is ranked No. 14 in the NSCAA coaches' poll and No. 13 by Soccer America. Duke is ranked No. 18 by Soccer America and is unranked by the NSCAA.
Carolina vs. Duke
Carolina leads the alltime series with Duke, 33-30-6. The Tar Heels defeated Duke, 4-2, last season in Durham. Prior to that UNC win, the Blue Devils had defeated the Tar Heels four times in a row and six times in a seven-game span dating to the 1994 ACC Tournament.
Last year's victory was the second in what would become a school-best 15-game winning streak for Carolina. In that game, Eddie Robinson, Chris Carrieri, David Stokes and Caleb Norkus all scored for UNC. Stokes's goal is the only goal of his career, and it was the game-winner that day.
Pause Cleared to Play
Tar Heel sophomore midfielder Logan Pause tore the miniscus in his left knee and underwent surgery during the offseason. He was expected to miss the entire 2001 season but his condition has improved rapidly and he has been fully cleared to return to action.
Pause began practicing at full speed on Wednesday and could see action soon.
McGinty Named to Soccer America's Team of the Week for Sept. 10-16 Sophomore forward Sean McGinty scored both UNC goals in the win over UNC Greensboro on Sept. 16 and was named to Soccer America's 11-man Team of the Week on Sept. 18.
Tar Heel Defense Hopes to Repeat Last Year's Success
Carolina returns all four members of last year's defensive unit, which led the ACC with 0.75 goals allowed per game in 2000. Starting goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey (a senior) and starting defenders Danny Jackson (senior), Chris Leitch (senior) and David Stokes (sophomore) all played virtually every minute of every game last year.
Ueltschey led the ACC in shutouts, goals against average and save percentage in 2000 and has again been impressive this season, becoming a vocal leader in the back for UNC.
Jackson was named a second-team All-America in 2000 and looks to earn first-team honors this year as Carolina's central defender. Leitch and Stokes are both superb on-the-ball defenders who could merit all-conference and All-America consideration themselves.
Inexperienced Offensive Unit Beginning to Take Shape
Carolina lost 78 percent of its goals and 56 percent of its assists from the 2000 squad and entered this season with a great deal of inexperience up front.
Sophomore Sean McGinty leads Carolina and entered the week tied for the ACC lead with four goals and nine points. Freshman Marcus Storey is second on the team with eight points. Junior Mike Gell has seen increased playing time up front, and junior transfer David Testo also has pitched in at forward.
Among the ACC Leaders
The following Tar Heels were among the leaders in the latest ACC men's soccer release (as of Sept. 24):
Sean McGinty - Tied 3rd in points (9), tied 2nd in goals (4), tied 4th in points per game (1.50), tied 2nd in goals per game (0.67)
Michael Ueltschey - 6th in goals against average (1.17), 7th in save percentage (.682) and 6th in saves (2.50 per game).
As a team, Carolina is 2nd in the ACC in scoring offense (2.67 goals per game) and 2nd in scoring defense (1.17 goals allowed per game).
