University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Open ACC Play Versus No. 12 Virginia
September 24, 2004 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2004
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina (1-3-2, 0-0-0 ACC) hopes to put an end to a four-match winless streak in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener when it hosts No. 12 Virginia (5-1-0, 1-0-0 ACC) at 2 p.m. Sunday at Fetzer Field. The Tar Heels, who have just one win in their first six games of the season, are off to their worst start since the 1997 team opened 1-5-0. Carolina lost at No. 6 Old Dominion, 3-2, Tuesday. The Cavaliers defeated Manhattan, 4-1, Tuesday and won at then-No. 2 Wake Forest, 2-1, September 17. UVa's only loss was at then-No. 8 Saint Louis, 2-1.
RECENT HISTORY AGAINST THE CAVALIERS
Carolina has struggled against Virginia in recent years, posting a 2-7-1 mark in the teams' last 10 meetings. However, the Tar Heels have won two of the last four games, including a 2-1 win in the most recent match in Chapel Hill in 2002. A year ago, UVa defeated UNC, 1-0, in Charlottesville for the Tar Heels' first loss of the season. This is the fourth consecutive season that Carolina has opened its conference slate against Virginia.
SCOUTING UVA
In six games this season, Virginia has outscored its opponents, 13-4. Sophomore Adam Christman leads the way with six points on three goals, while junior Hunter Freeman has five points on one goal and a team-best three assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Burke sports a 0.67 goals against average.
STOREY STARTS HOT
Much like last season, senior forward Marcus Storey is off to a hot start for the Tar Heels. Through six games, he leads Carolina with eight points on two goals and four assists. In fact, Storey has had a goal and an assist in two of the last three games. Storey now has 25 career goals and needs just three more to tie Billy Hartman (1981-84) and David Smyth (1984-87) for ninth on the career goals scored list at Carolina with 28.
DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES
Through six matches this season, the Tar Heels have allowed 13 goals compared to just 16 total goals allowed in 20 matches a year ago. With seniors Grant Porter and Sean McGinty, as well as then-juniors Tim Merritt and Ray Fumo on the backline last season, UNC allowed its fewest goals since 1978. Stingy defense has been a trademark at Carolina in recent years, as The Tar Heels have allowed fewer than 20 goals in three of the last four seasons.
FETZER'S FRIENDLY CONFINES
Despite a 307-96-24 all-time record at Fetzer Field, Carolina has struggled at home this season, posting an 0-2-1 mark thus far. In fact, the Tar Heels are winless in their last five home matches dating back to last season. UNC's last victory at home was a 1-0 win over No. 1 Maryland on Oct. 5, 2003. Over the last six seasons, Carolina owns an impressive 43-10-2 mark on its home turf. The Tar Heels have not lost more than two matches at home in a single season since 1999.
TOUGH STRETCH FOR HEELS
Tuesday's loss at No. 6 Old Dominion was the start of a tough stretch for the Tar Heels, who are in the midst of a run of five nationally-ranked opponents in six matches. Following Sunday's meeting with No. 12 Virginia, Carolina travels to No. 4 UNC Greensboro (Sept. 29), No. 13 Duke (Oct. 3) and No. 1 Maryland (Oct. 10). The Tar Heels home game against UNC Asheville on October 6 is the only match in the next six versus an unranked opponent.
TAR HEELS PUT TWO ON HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
After each earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors a year ago, senior forward Marcus Storey and sophomore forward Jamie Watson were named to the second annual 25-man watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, regarded as the most prestigious individual honor in intercollegiate soccer. The list was compiled by a coaching panel for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, which serves as the official selection body for the award. Storey, who was also named a preseason second-team All-America by College Soccer News, has eight points on two goals and four assists this season, while Watson has five points on two goals and an assist.
TAR HEEL RECRUITS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
For the second consecutive season, UNC head coach Elmar Bolowich has one of the nation's top freshman classes at his disposal. This year's bunch is ranked as the No. 3 class by Soccer America and No. 4 by College Soccer News. The 11-man class is led by U.S. Under-17 National Team members Chris Germani, Dax McCarty and Adam Sloustcher. Rookie defender Andre Sherard has started all six games thus far, while McCarty, Germani, Sloustcher and Michael Walters, who has started three games, have all seen extensive action. McCarty is tied for second on the team with six points (two goals, two assists).
CAROLINA PICKED AS LEAGUE FAVORITE BY ACC COACHES
For just the second time since 1990, the Tar Heels were chosen by the Atlantic Coast Conference head coaches as the favorite to win the league title. The last time UNC was picked to finish first it did win the league but went on to claim the NCAA crown in 2001. This time around, Carolina was the only team with more than one (four) first-place votes. The Tar Heels tallied 57 total points, outdistancing second-place Virginia, which had 51 points.
