University of North Carolina Athletics
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Maryland
Maryland Rallies Past Tar Heels, 4-2, in ACC Semifinal
November 13, 2004 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 13, 2004
CARY, N.C. - North Carolina held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 but fifth-ranked Maryland scored three unanswered goals to post a 4-2 win over the Tar Heels in the semifinal round of the 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Championship Saturday at SAS Soccer Park. With the victory, second-seeded Maryland advances to face No. 4 seed Virginia in Sunday's title game for the third straight year.
After a scoreless first half, the third-seeded Tar Heels (10-8-2) and Terrapins (15-4-1) exploded for six goals on 16 shots in the second. The first five goals came in an 18-minute span.
Carolina senior Andrew Rhea broke the scoreless tie with a free kick from just outside the box at the 53:38 mark. Sophomore Corey Ashe was dribbling toward the box and was fouled by a Terrapin defender to give the Tar Heels the free kick opportunity. Both Rhea and Tim Merritt lined up in position to take the kick, but Merritt faked an attempt and Rhea followed with a shot through the wall of wall of Maryland defenders for a 1-0 Tar Heel lead. The score was Rhea's second of the season and second in the last two games.
Just five minutes later, Maryland's Jason Garey knotted the score at one with his 18th goal of the season. The Terps' Chris Lancos served a long ball to the near post, which Garey collected and fired past UNC goalkeeper Ford Williams to tie the match at one.
Carolina answered just 27 seconds later with a goal by Ashe to reclaim the lead at 2-1. Senior forward Marcus Storey blasted a shot from about 25 yards out of the cross bar, which Jamie Watson collected and crossed to Ashe, who headed the ball into the net from about six yards out. The goal was Ashe's team-best ninth of the season.
The Tar Heels' one-goal lead was short-lived, as Maryland scored the final three goals to post the 4-2 win. After Lancos tied the score at two in the 70th minute off a Kenney Bertz throw-in, Domenic Mediate and Garey both scored off long balls served by Lancos for the final margin. Mediate scored at the 71:16 mark, while Garey's second goal of the match and 19th of the season came at 80:44. Lancos had five points on the match on a goal and three assists, while Garey scored twice for the Terps.
Williams had three saves for the Tar Heels, who allowed four goals for the first time since Virginia Commonwealth scored five on September 12. Entering Saturday's match, Carolina had surrendered just six goals in the last 10 games. Maryland's Noah Palmer had two saves, and the Terps had the edge in shots, 14-10.
The scoreless first half was fairly even as both teams fired four shots but neither could find the back of the net. Williams picked up just one save in the half but his aggressive play halted several Maryland scoring opportunities.
Carolina will now wait to learn if it earns an at-large bid to the 2004 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. Selections will be announced Monday. The Tar Heels have made a school-record five consecutive NCAA appearances.
Scoring: 1. UNC - Andrew Rhea (Unassisted), 53:38 2. MD - Jason Garey (Chris Lancos), 63:36 3. UNC - Corey Ashe (Jamie Watson), 64:03 4. MD - Chris Lancos (Kenney Bertz), 69:33 5. MD - Domenic Mediate (Chris Lancos), 71:16 6. MD -Jason Garey (Chris Lancos), 80:44 Goals: Jason Garey (MD) 2, Chris Lancos (MD), Domenic Mediate (MD), Andrew Rhea (UNC), Corey Ashe (UNC) Assists: Chris Lancos (MD) 3, Kenney Bertz (MD), Jamie Watson (UNC) Goalie Stats: Ford Williams (UNC): 4 goals allowed, 3 saves, 90 minutes; Noah Palmer (MD): 2 goals allowed, 2 saves, 90 minutes Shots: MD 14, UNC 10 Fouls: MD 13, UNC 10 Corners: MD 4, UNC 3 Offsides: MD 2, UNC 1 Attendance: 1,252Score by Halves Team 1-2-Final UNC 0-2-2 MD 0-4-4
