University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 6 Tar Heels Look to Rebound Against Clemson
October 30, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Coming off just its second loss of the season, the sixth-ranked North Carolina men's soccer team (11-2-3, 2-2-1 ACC) hopes to close out its home schedule in perfect fashion Saturday when the Tar Heels host Clemson (7-7-2, 1-4-0 ACC) at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field. With a victory, Carolina will wrap up the 2003 season with a 6-0 record at home and will extend its home unbeaten streak to 14 matches.
Fans can listen to Dean Linke and Dan Satter call the action here at TarHeelBlue.com.
A win will also assure the Tar Heels of a winning record in Atlantic Coast Conference play for the fourth consecutive season for the first time since 1977-80. The match will be important for seeding for the upcoming ACC Tournament, as will Friday's Duke-Wake Forest and Virginia-Maryland matches. Depending on this weekend's action, Carolina can earn anywhere between the No. 2 and No. 5 seeds for the tourney, which is slated for Nov. 12, 14 and 16 at Cary's SAS Stadium.
Carolina has won five of the last seven meetings with the Tigers but trails the all-time series, 24-15-6. Clemson beat UNC, 3-2, in last year's ACC Tournament. The Tigers last won in Chapel Hill in 1997 by a 2-1 margin.
Saturday's match marks the final home regular season appearance for Carolina seniors Jay Batt, Sean McGinty and Grant Porter.
Last time out for the Tar Heels, they lost 4-0 at Wake Forest Oct. 25, while Clemson topped Elon, 3-2, Wednesday. The Tigers have won two of their last three outings, after dropping three of four.
The Tigers are paced by Andre Borges (five goals, one assist) and Paul Sonders (three goals, four assists) on offense. Both Phil Marfuggi and Hunter Gilstrap have seen significant time in goal and have combined for a 1.57 goals allowed average.
Topping the Carolina scoring charts are junior Marcus Storey and freshman Jamie Watson, who have both tallied 15 points this year. Junior defender Tim Merritt anchors the center of the Tar Heel defense and is third on the squad with nine points. In goal, sophomore Ford Williams ranks second in the ACC with a 0.85 GAA.
After Saturday's meeting, the Tar Heels conclude the regular season with a Nov. 8 match at South Carolina.
