University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Old Dominion
No. 2 Tar Heels Edge No. 22 Old Dominion, 2-1
September 18, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 18, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior forward Corey Ashe scored for the fourth time in the last five games, and freshman forward Brian Shriver netted his first career goal to lead No. 2 North Carolina (5-0-1) to a 2-1 win over No. 22 Old Dominion (3-1-1) Sunday at Fetzer Field.
Shriver's first half goal, and Ashe's in the 59th minute gave the Tar Heels a 2-0 advantage before the Monarchs got on the board in the 62nd minute to cut the lead in half. ODU had several chances for the equalizer in the final 20 minutes, but Carolina's defense held strong to secure the win, which lifted the Tar Heels to a 5-0-1 start for the second time in the last three years.
Carolina keeper Ford Williams made a season-high six saves in the game and allowed just his third goal in 560 minutes played.
In an evenly played first half, Shriver's goal gave Carolina the 1-0 lead at the 37:13 mark. Classmate Stephen Bickford set up the goal with a cross from the left flank that found Shriver for a tap in past ODU keeper John Connelly at the near post. Sophomore midfielder Dax McCarty served the ball to Bickford from the midfield to pick up an assist on the play.
The second Tar Heel goal came in the 59th minute courtesy of Ashe, who fired home a cross at the far post from junior Ben Hunter from about five yards out for his team-best fourth goal of the season and a 2-0 Carolina lead. The score was also Ashe's team-high third game-winning goal on the season.
Just over three minutes later, Old Dominion cut the lead in half when Brian Cvilikas headed home a Ross Mackenzie corner kick at 61:32. The Monarchs kept the pressure on in search of the tying goal, but Carolina defender Ted Odgers came up with a back save to prevent a goal in the 71st minute, and ODU's Edson Elcock fired a shot off the post in the 82nd minute in two of the Monarch's best chances.
Both teams took 15 shots in the match, while the Tar Heels held a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. Connelly made three saves for ODU and allowed two goals.
Carolina, which opened the season with a 1-0 win over No. 11 VCU, is 2-0 versus nationally-ranked opponents this season.
The Tar Heels return to Atlantic Coast Conference action versus Clemson Friday at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field.
