University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Hope To Stay Hot Against Hokies
October 19, 2004 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 19, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina men's soccer team will be in search of its first three-match winning streak of the season Wednesday when it travels to Blacksburg, Va., for its first-ever conference match against Virginia Tech. Action between the Tar Heels and Hokies is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Virginia Tech Soccer Stadium.
Carolina (5-6-2, 1-2-0 ACC) is coming off a 2-0 win over then-No. 7 South Carolina on October 16. The Tar Heels also knocked off Elon last week, 3-1, and are riding their first back-to-back wins of the season. With a victory over Virginia Tech (7-6-0, 1-2-0 ACC), the Tar Heels will even their record at .500 for the first time since the opening weekend of the season.
The Tar Heels lead the all-time slate with the Hokies, 6-0-0, but the teams' have not met since 1979. Virginia Tech is coached by former UNC assistant Oliver Weiss, who was Elmar Bolowich's top assistant from 1999-2001. Weiss guided the Hokies to the NCAA Tournament a year ago as a member of the Big East Conference.
Senior Bailey Allman tops Virginia Tech with 16 points on seven goals and two assists. Freshman Marcus Reed is second with 11 points and five goals. Chase Harrison has posted seven shutouts in goal and has a 1.07 goals against average.
Senior forward Marcus Storey leads the Tar Heel attack with 16 points on five goals and six assists. With two scores in the win over Elon, he is now tied for ninth all-time at Carolina with 28 career goals. Sophomore Corey Ashe also has five goals, including three game-winners.
After struggling early in the season, the Tar Heel defense, anchored by senior Tim Merritt, has allowed just two goals in its last four matches. Junior Ford Williams has started in goal in each of these four games and has lowered his season GAA to 1.39. He has two shutouts on the season.
Following Wednesday's match, the Tar Heels return home to face rival NC State at 2 p.m. Sunday at Fetzer Field. After the meeting with the Hokies, Carolina plays three consecutive matches at home before closing out ACC play at Clemson on November 7.
