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North Carolina State
Tar Heels Win Seventh in a Row, Downing Rival Wolfpack 4-1
October 25, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 25, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--Yael Averbuch knocked in a pair of goals while Casey Nogueira and Robyn Gayle each had unassisted tallies as the No. 7 North Carolina women's soccer team won its seventh match in a row and ran its ACC record to 8-1 with a 4-1 win over rival NC State at rain-soaked Fetzer Field. With the win, the Tar Heels retain control of first place in the ACC standings with 24 points while Virginia is second with 18 points and Florida State third with 16 points.
North Carolina won for the seventh straight time against the Wolfpack (5-8-3, ACC 0-7-1), outshooting State 22-3 and having an 8-0 edge in corner kicks.
UNC got on the board at 23:54 on Casey Nogueira's 10th goal of the season. With Meghan Klingenberg waiting at the scorer's table to substitute in for Nogueira, the sophomore striker from Raleigh, N.C. dodged a trio of Wolfpack defenders, dribbled into the middle of the box and sent a rocket into the lower right corner to put the Heels up 1-0.
At 41:03, Carolina added what would end up being the game-winning goal by Averbuch, her fourth of the season and her fourth game-winning goal of the campaign as well. Averbuch collected a loose ball at the top of the box and let go with a scorching shot that settled into the lower right 90.
Less than six minutes into the second half, Carolina increased its lead to 3-0 on Robyn Gayle's first goal of the season and her first since scoring against Clemson in the ACC Tournament semifinals last season. Averbuch launched a corner kick into the middle of the box that was cleared by the State defense directly to an unmarked Gayle at the top of the box. Gayle sent a worm burner that made its way through a maze of players to find the lower right corner.
State made it interesting at 70:24 on an unassisted goal by substitute Sabrina Lukasik. A ball launched over the Tar Heel defensive back three was converged on by three Carolina players at the top of the box but the clearance went directly to Lukasik who one-timed the ball for an open net goal.
Carolina got that goal back at 83:24 on a give-and-go by Averbuch and Whitney Engen. Averbuch fed Engen in the right side of the box and with Engen holding off her defender she sent it back to Averbuch 12 yards out on the right side. Averbuch then pummeled a ball to the far post that found the back side netting.
The Tar Heels (14-3-0, ACC 8-1-0) will have an eight-day respite before hosting No. 3-ranked Virginia (11-1-4, ACC 5-0-3) on Friday, November 2 at Fetzer Field at 7 p.m.
