University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
No. 8 Tar Heels Topple Top-Ranked Virginia, 2-1
September 22, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 22, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina's Scott Campbell and Eddie Ababio scored second half goals, and its defense withstood a late Virginia rally to lead the No. 8 Tar Heels to a 2-1 win over the No. 1 Cavaliers Friday in front of an electric crowd of 3,223 at Fetzer Field. The victory was Carolina's first over a top-ranked opponent since 2003 and its fourth in a row over UVa at home.
With the win, the Tar Heels (8-2-0, 1-2-0 ACC) avoided their first 0-3-0 start in league play since 1997. The loss was the first of the season for the Cavaliers (8-1-0, 2-1-0 ACC), who also dropped a 2-1 decision at Fetzer in the third round of last season's NCAA Tournament.
UNC's last win over a No. 1-ranked team, a 1-0 victory over Maryland, came on Oct. 5, 2003. Friday's win marked the second in two nights for the Tar Heels over a top-ranked opponent, as the UNC women downed No. 1 Florida State, 2-1, Thursday. Friday's crowd was the fourth largest for a men's soccer game at Fetzer Field in Carolina history.
After the teams combined for just two shots in the first half, Carolina was aggressive from the start in the second period and finally broke through on Campbell's 68th minute goal on assists from forwards Ben Hunter and Bill Dworsky. Dworsky sent the ball from the middle of the field to Hunter, who crossed the ball from the left flank over UVa keeper Ryan Burke to Campbell at the far post. The Plantation, Fla., product then buried a short header for his third goal of the season.
Down a goal, the Cavaliers picked up the pressure on the offensive end until Ababio pushed UNC's lead to 2-0 in the 76th minute. Just 44 seconds after he entered the match, the Tampa, Fla., rookie netted his first career goal on an 18-yard strike off assists from Zach Loyd and Michael Callahan. Loyd, who came on with Ababio at the 74:23 mark, sent the ball to the left to Ababio, whose first-touch strike found the upper right-hand corner of the net.
Virginia pulled within a goal on an Adam Cristman header in the 83rd minute. Yannick Reyering flicked a header off a corner from Zola Short to Christman, who scored from five yards. The Cavaliers managed one last shot in the 89th minute, but UNC goalkeeper Justin Hughes made his fourth and final save to preserve the win.
Hughes equaled a season-high with six saves, while Burke made four stops for Virginia. The game was a physical contest with 39 total fouls, including 26 by the Wahoos. A total of seven yellow cards were handed out.
Defense ruled the first half, as the teams combined for just two shots. Carolina's best chance came in the 29th minute when Burke made a diving stop on 12-yard blast from Hunter. The Tar Heels finished with an 11-7 edge on the shot chart.
With Friday's goal, Campbell now leads the team with nine points, including eight in the last five games. Callahan's assist gives him seven points over the last four. Ababio is now the eighth different Tar Heel to score a game-winning goal.
Carolina plays the final game of its three-game home stand Tuesday against Elon at 7 p.m.
