University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Kick Off 2003 Exhibtion Season this Weekend
August 14, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 14, 2003
CHAPEL HILL - The University of North Carolina men's soccer team kicks off its 2003 exhibition season against the College of Charleston at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Cougars' Patriots Point. This action marks the first of two exhibitions for UNC, which opens the regular season against St. John's on August 29. The Tar Heels also take on Old Dominion in an exhibition August 23 at Cary's SAS Stadium.
Carolina, which opened practice Wednesday, features 14 freshmen on its 25-man roster, and this exhibition will be the first collegiate game action for many of these rookies. Three UNC newcomers - Corey Ashe, Michael Harrington and Jamie Watson - are playing the United States Under-17 National Team at the U-17 World Cup in Finland and will miss the two exhibitions.
Despite losing their top top three scorers from a year ago, the Tar Heels return 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year Marcus Storey up front and talented goalkeeper Ford Williams in the net. Storey tallied eight goals and four assists a year ago, while Williams, who is a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team, posted five shutouts and a 0.90 goals against average. Senior co-captains Sean McGinty and Grant Porter hope to lead UNC to its fifth-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The all-time series between the Tar Heels and Cougars, who went 11-7-2 a year ago, is tied, 3-3. The two teams last met in the 1995 regular season, with Charleston taking a 3-0 decision at home.
