University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
South Carolina
No. 2 Tar Heels Top South Carolina for Fourth Straight Shutout
September 11, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 11, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman Scott Campbell and junior Corey Ashe provided the offense, and the defense logged its fourth straight shutout to lead No. 2 North Carolina (4-0-0) to a 2-0 victory over South Carolina (0-4-0) Sunday in the final game of the Carolina Nike Classic at Fetzer Field. The Tar Heels, who have yet to allow a goal this season, blanked their fourth straight opponent for the first time since the national championship season of 2001.
Senior goalkeeper Ford Williams made three saves and picked up his fourth shutout of the season and the 19th of his career. The school record for consecutive shutouts by a keeper is six by Watson Jennison set in 1992. North Carolina has also not allowed a goal to South Carolina since 1999, outscoring the Gamecocks, 10-0, over the last six meetings.
After being held scoreless in the first half, the Tar Heels got on the board in the 54th minute thanks to Campbell's second goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Dax McCarty got the play started when he dribbled up the middle of the field and sent a pass to Campbell on the left. The Plantation, Fla., native then bent a shot around the near post and into the lower left-hand corner of the net for a 1-0 Carolina lead. Campbell's goal came seconds after a leaping save by Williams on a shot attempt by South Carolina's Ayo Akinsete.
Just under 15 minutes later, Campbell assisted on a second goal when he fired a shot from 12 yards out on the left that South Carolina keeper Mike Gustavson, who made nine stops on the day, stopped but could not corral. Ashe then buried the rebound into the left side of the net for a 2-0 Tar Heel lead and his third goal in the last three games.
Neither team could muster a goal in the first half, and the Tar Heels held a 7-2 edge in shots in the opening frame. However, South Carolina missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 31st minute when Mike Sambursky misfiled on an open net and hit the bottom of the far post.
Carolina finished the match with a 21-4 edge in shots and a 9-3 advantage on corners.
No. 16 Wake Forest (3-1-0) toppled Rutgers (1-3-0) in the first match of the day to close out the weekend with a pair of wins. The Deacons led the way with four members of the Carolina Nike Classic All-Tournament Team. Ashe, McCarty and Williams were the Tar Heels' representatives.
Carolina opens Atlantic Coast Conference action against NC State 7 p.m. Wednesday at SAS Soccer Park in Cary.
CAROLINA NIKE CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM Mark Ellington, Wake Forest Justin Moose, Wake Forest Pat Phelan, Wake Forest Ryan Solle, Wake Forest Corey Ashe, North Carolina Dax McCarty, North Carolina Ford Williams, North Carolina Matt VanOekel, Rutgers Jake Martenson, Rutgers Ryan Leeton, South Carolina Greg Reece, South Carolina
