University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Seeded Fourth In NCAA Tournament
November 17, 2003 | Men's Soccer
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Nov. 17, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - For a school-record fifth-consecutive season, the University of North Carolina men's soccer team has earned a spot in the field of the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, which was announced Monday on ESPNews. The No. 4-seed Tar Heels (12-3-4) were an at-large selection and will host the winner between Davidson (15-5-2) and Coastal Carolina (18-2-0) in a second round match-up Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 3 p.m. at Fetzer Field.
Tickets prices for the Carolina's opening match are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. As one of the top-16 seeds, the Tar Heels receive a first-round bye. As long as it is alive in the tournament, Carolina will host through the quarterfinal round. The 2003 College Cup is set for Dec. 12 and 14 in Columbus, Ohio.
UNC defeated Southern Conference champion Davidson, 1-0, on the road earlier this season and owns a 23-4-2 mark in the all-time series. The Tar Heels are 2-0 all-time against Big South champ Coastal Carolina. The teams last met in 1989, with Carolina posting a 1-0 victory.
Carolina will be making its 12th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tar Heels own a 15-10 mark in the postseason and won the 2001 national title, the first in program history. Head coach Elmar Bolowich has guided UNC to nine NCAA appearances and an 11-7 record in NCAA Tournament matches, including an 8-2 mark over the last three seasons. UNC has hosted at least one NCAA Tournament match in each of the last three seasons and owns a 9-3 mark in postseason play at Fetzer Field.
This season, the Tar Heels have been paced by their stellar defense, which has posted 10 shutouts in 19 matches. As a team, Carolina has allowed just 13 goals and owns a 0.64 goals against average. Freshman goalkeeper Justin Hughes owns a 0.35 GAA and has recorded five shutouts in eight starts. Second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference defender Tim Merritt anchors the Tar Heels' back four.
Offensively, junior Marcus Storey and ACC Rookie of the Year Jamie Watson lead the way for UNC with 15 points. Storey, who has six goals and three assists, earned first-team all-conference honors, while Watson, who has five goals and five assists, earned second-team all-conference and all-freshmen accolades.
The Tar Heels are one of six ACC teams in the 48-team field. Maryland is seeded second, while Wake Forest earned the No. 3 seed. Clemson, NC State and Virginia also join Carolina in the tournament.
