University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Charlotte
Makeshift Lineup Produces In Tar Heel Victory
September 7, 2001 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 7, 2001
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- #1 North Carolina used one its more bizarre lineups in years but it worked to near perfection Friday night as the Tar Heels prevailed over Charlotte 5-0 in the second game of the Carolina Nike Classic. A crowd of 2,467 watched the action at Fetzer Field.
Five different Tar Heels (2-0) scored as UNC got three of its goals from reserves and two goals from defenders. UNC had to play without starters Jena Kluegel in the midfield and Catherine Reddick in the defense as they are currently competing for the United States Women's National Team in the 2001 U.S. Women's Nike Cup. Carolina was further hurt when starting forward Susan Bush went out with a knee injury in the 16th minute and starting midfielder Maggie Tomecka was limited to less than 17 minutes because of a bad cold. The extent of Bush's injury is not known. She suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament last October and was pkaying in only her second game since then. All four players could miss Carolina's game on Sunday against eighth-ranked Penn State. The Nittany Lions (2-1) were brilliant tonight in the first game of the Carolina Nike Classic as they overwhelmed Duke (1-2) by a 5-1 score.
Carolina compensated for the personnel losses by playing 20 players Friday including backup goalkeeper Kristin DePlatchett as a field player. A pair of freshmen from Greensboro--Leigh Blomgren and Laura Winslow--each saw their first action in a UNC uniform. Other key performers for UNC included Carmen Watley, who made her first career start, and forwards Elizabeth Ball and Amy Whittier, who both played for the first time since December 5, 1999 when UNC defeated Notre Dame 2-0 in that year's NCAA championship game.
Carolina got on the scoreboard in the 12th minute when Watley lob a ball into the Charlotte (0-1-1) box that defender Leslie Gaston ran onto for a 12-yard putaway into the upper right shelf. It was Watley's first career assist.
Neither team scored in the remainder of the first half but the Tar Heels came out of the locker room and played with a sense of purpose. Ball headed in a goal on the far post off a cross by striker Alyssa Ramsey in the 49th minute for Carolina's second goal. Midfielder Jordan Walker also assisted on the goal. Just 1:09 later the Tar Heels made it 3-0 when Ramsey headed in a shot off a rebound of the original shot by forward Anne Morrell. Carolina's fourth and fifth goals also came in rapid succession. In the 72nd minute Watley launched a long strike from just inside midfield that hit so hard in the box that it bounced right over the head of Charlotte goalkeeper Jenn Howell and into the goal. Just 1:55 later the Tar Heels finished off the scoring as Whittier headed in a goal just a split second before colliding with Howell. UNC goalkeeper Jenni Branam and Ball both had assists on the play as Carolina went the length of the field on three touches in a matter of seconds.
ranam helped Carolina post its second straight shutout of the season. The UNC defense stifled Charlotte and allowed only two shots. The Tar Heels launched 24. Howell had six saves while allowing five goals in 73:52. Lauren Dansby finished off play for Charlotte after Howell had to leave the game after colliding with Whittier.
Carolina Nike Classic play continues Sunday with Duke meeting Charlotte at 1 p.m. and #1 UNC meeting #8 Penn State at 3 p.m.
CHARLOTTE 0 0--0 #1 NORTH CAROLINA 1 4--5 Scoring 11:28--North Carolina---Leslie Gaston (Carmen Watley)Shots: Charlotte 2, North Carolina 24
48:22--North Carolina--Elizabeth Ball (Alyssa Ramsey, Jordan Walker)
49:31--North Carolina--Alyssa Ramsey (Anne Morrell)
71:57--North Carolina--Carmen Watley
73:52--North Carolina--Amy Whittier (Elizabeth Ball, Jenni Branam)
Corner Kicks: Charlotte 2, North Carolina 13
Goalkeeper Saves: Jennifer Howell (Charlotte) 6, Lauren Dansby (Charlotte) 0, Jenni Branam (North Carolina) 0
Fouls: Charlotte 10, North Carolina 17
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Offside Violations: Charlotte 2, North Carolina 2
Starting Lineups: Charlotte--Jennifer Howell (G), Jill Hayes (F), Shannon Roberto (D), Kim Moore (D), Kim Miles (M), Tiffany Ross (M), Dawn Geyer (M), Leslie Canales (F), Megan Terlip (D), Candace Murphy (M), Mikel Casey (D),
North Carolina--Maggie Tomecka (M), Sara Randolph (M), Anne Remy (M), Alyssa Ramsey (F), Jordan Walker (M), Susan Bush (F), Jenni Branam (G), Carmen Watley (D), Leslie Gaston (D), Danielle Borgman (D), Anne Morrell (F). Reserves Who Played: Charlotte--Jill Leeder, Jennie Leeder, Abbie Allison, Tracie Jones, Lauren Dansby, Haley Devine, Haley Mitchum, Christy Johnson,
North Carolina--Mary McDowell, Anne Felts, Elizabeth Ball, Leigh Blomgren, Johanna Costa, Amy Whittier, Laura Winslow, Jane Smith, Kristin DePlatchettx.
Game Officials: Daniel Burak (Referee), Kim Oberle (Assistant Referee), Jim Carpenter (Assistant Referee) <> 2,467
