University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 3 Carolina Travels to No. 5 Wake Forest
October 24, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 24, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In a meeting of two of the Atlantic Coast Conference's hottest men's soccer teams, third-ranked North Carolina (11-1-3, 2-1-1 ACC) travels to No. 5 Wake Forest (10-3, 2-2 ACC) for a 7 p.m. match Saturday at Spry Stadium. The Tar Heels are unbeaten in their last eight games, while the Deacons have won six in a row.
oth teams won non-conference matches Wednesday, as Carolina topped Davidson, 1-0, and Wake took out Gardner-Webb, 6-1. The Tar Heels hold an 18-4-5 advantage in the all-time series but have not defeated the Deacons since winning twice in 2000. WFU won 4-2 in 2001 and the teams tied 2-2 in Chapel Hill a year ago. Carolina last beat Wake at Spry Stadium, 2-1, in 1997, but the Tar Heels did knock off a pair of top-10 teams (St. John's, Connecticut) in Winston-Salem earlier this year at the season-opening Wake Forest/adidas Classic.
The strength of Carolina's unbeaten streak has been its defense, as the Tar Heels have surrendered just two goals in their last seven matches. This streak is the best defensive run for UNC since the 2001 squad also allowed just two goals in seven games from Oct. 2-24. Anchoring the backline, is senior co-captains Grant Porter and Sean McGinty, as well as junior Tim Merritt, who is also tied for the team lead with a pair of game-winning goals. Merritt also ranks third on the team with nine points. Junior Marcus Storey and freshman Jamie Watson share the team lead with 15 points.
The Wake Forest offense is led by Scott Sealy, who has eight goals and three assists for 19 points. Tomy Szcypiorski is second with 11 points on five goals and an assist. William Hesmer mans the goal for the Deacs with a 0.94 goals against average and four shutouts.
Sophomore Ford Williams and freshman Justin Hughes lead the Tar Heels in goal. The team's 0.53 goals against average entering this week ranks sixth nationally.
Carolina returns to action Saturday, Nov. 1 at Fetzer Field against Clemson. The 7 p.m. match is the final regular season home tilt for the Tar Heels.
