University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Elon
McCarty Sends No. 4 Carolina Past Elon, 2-1
October 4, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 4, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sophomore midfielder Dax McCarty netted a free kick off the post with 2:29 left in the second overtime to give No. 4 North Carolina a 2-1 victory over Elon Tuesday at Fetzer Field. With the win, the Tar Heels (8-1-1) improved to 9-0 all-time versus the Phoenix (5-5-2) and moved to 6-0 at home this season.
McCarty's second goal of the season - and first since the season-opening win over VCU - came after the Tar Heels missed on several scoring opportunities late in regulation and earlier in overtime. Carolina freshman forward Stephen Bickford was fouled by an Elon defender just outside the 18-yard line, and McCarty nailed the free kick off his left-hand post and into the net for the victory.
Freshman Scott Campbell, who leads the team with five goals and has scored in three of the last four games, came up with the Tar Heels' first score early in the opening half when he one-timed a Ben Hunter cross into the net from four yards out in the 18th minute. Defender Michael Harrington set up the play when he served the ball to Hunter on the left flank. Hunter then sent the cross to Campbell at the far post for the tap-in and the early lead.
Elon tied the match in the 57th minute when freshman forward Kiki Willis, who took six of the team's eight shots, nailed a free kick from 25 yards out. Following a Tar Heel foul, Willis powered home low liner into the left-hand corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.
After tying the match, Elon played 10 men in the defensive third of the field for much of the final 50 minutes of play and did not attempt a shot after the 71st minute. The Tar Heels managed 21 shots on the night to eight for the Phoenix.
Carolina had several chances in the final minutes of regulation, including a flurry in the box with under two minutes left and another McCarty free kick with less than a minute remaining.
The Tar Heels fired six shots in the overtime periods, including a pair of plays that could have ended the match just before the eventual game-winner. In the 102nd minute, Campbell flicked the ball to an open Corey Ashe who dribbled and fired wide of the net, and Cameron Lewis followed seconds before McCarty's goal with a diving header off a free kick that was stopped by Elon keeper Taylor Saxe, who had three saves in the match.
UNC keeper Ford Williams allowed just one goal and made two saves in 107:31. The Tar Heels are now 2-0-1 in overtime this season.
Carolina returns to Atlantic Coast Conference action versus Virginia Tech Saturday at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field.
