University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 4 Tar Heels Open NCAA Title Defense This Weekend
August 28, 2002 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina men's soccer team will open its defense of the 2001 NCAA championship this weekend when it hosts the Nike Carolina Classic at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill. Carolina will face Akron on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in its season opener and will host perennial national power Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Atlantic Coast Conference rival Wake Forest rounds out the tournament field.
Carolina won its first-ever national championship in men's soccer last season after a 2-0 shutout of Indiana in the NCAA College Cup final.
The Tar Heels posted a tie with 2000 NCAA champion Connecticut in their only exhibition game of the 2002 preseason last Saturday night in Cary, N.C., in the first annual "Clash of Champions." Seniors Ryan Kneipper and Mike Gell scored for UNC in the 2-2 tie with the Huskies.
Tickets for the Nike Carolina Classic will be available at the Fetzer Field ticket trailer prior to Friday and Sunday's games.
