University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
High Point
No. 3 Tar Heels Settle For 3-3 Tie With High Point
October 3, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 3, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 3 North Carolina held a 29-5 edge in shots and a 17-3 advantage in corner kicks but had to settle for a 3-3 tie with visiting High Point Tuesday in men's soccer action at Fetzer Field. Michael Callahan, Zach Loyd and Eddie Ababio scored for the Tar Heels, who host No. 2 Maryland at 8 p.m. Friday on the Fox Soccer Channel.
After the Tar Heels took a 2-1 lead into halftime, the Panthers (2-6-3) scored twice in 55 seconds to claim a 3-2 advantage in the 61st minute. Ababio answered under three minutes later with the equalizer, but the Tar Heels (10-2-1) could not connect on a go-ahead goal despite outshooting High Point 19-3 in the second half and overtime.
Carolina allowed multiple goals for just the second time this season and only the seventh time over the last two years. Preseason All-America center back Andre Sherard did not start for just the second time in the last three seasons due to a back injury, and High Point scored all three of its goals before he entered in the 70th minute.
Additionally, senior forward Corey Ashe picked up a pair of assists for Carolina on the night.
After High Point took a lead in the fifth minute on Dan Haywood's second goal of the season, Ashe set up the Tar Heels' first equalizer with a cross from deep in the left corner to Callahan at the far post for a 1-1 tie in the 18th minute. Ashe's feed went past Bill Dworsky in the middle of the box and found Callahan for a tap in from five yards out just inside the right post. Callahan now owns the Tar Heel scoring lead with four goals and 10 points on the season.
Loyd gave Carolina its first lead of the night just before intermission with a six-yard finish off assists from Ashe and Stephen Bickford. Ashe again crossed the ball from the left to Bickford, who was in the box and tapped it back to Loyd, who scored under the reach of High Point starting goalkeeper Adam Ross for his second goal of the year.
The Panthers took the lead with back-to-back unassisted scores in the 60th and 61st minutes. Brandon Young picked up a loose ball and connected on a shot from 20 yards out to tie the game, and Gordon Smith followed with the go-ahead header on a ball deflected off a UNC defender just 55 seconds later.
Carolina picked up the tie on Ababio's second goal in the last four games at 63:11. He corralled the rebound off a 22-yard Michael Harrington shot and scored from five yards out. The assist was Harrington's third of the season.
The Tar Heels had several chances to earn the win, including a free kick by Callahan from 19 yards after Dworsky was fouled just outside the box. Dworsky nearly won the match twice in the first overtime - the first time on a point blank header that was saved by HPU reserve keeper Daniel Clark and the second on a shot over Clark that was stopped by Panther defender Victor Harrison in the 96th minute.
Clark made for saves in 43 minutes, while Ross made seven stops and allowed three goals. UNC's Justin Hughes made one stop and allowed three goals.
Carolina is back in action against No. 2 Maryland on the Fox Soccer Channel at 8 p.m. Friday.
