University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Boston College
No. 13 Boston College Stuns UNC, 2-1
September 22, 2007 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 22, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 13 Boston College scored a tying goal at the 86:52 mark and won it less than a minute into the first overtime, as the Eagles defeated North Carolina 2-1 Saturday night at Fetzer Field. Alejandro Bedoya had the equalizer and Mike Konicoff delivered the game-winner, as BC denied Carolina its first 2-0 start in league play since 1987. Michael Callahan scored for the Tar Heels, who fall to 2-2-3 on the season.
Both sides had great scoring chances in the game's opening minutes, with the Eagles (5-1-0, 2-0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) threatening first. Reuben Ayarna fired a shot from just inside the penalty area that Carolina keeper Tyler Deric was able to block away. Bedoya then fired another strike off the rebound, but Deric was up to the task a second time. Less than a minute later, UNC's Joan Carvajal pushed a shot past BC keeper Chris Brown, but it caught the post and rolled just wide of the goal.
The Tar Heels, now 1-1-0 in ACC action, would have the best of the possession over the next 20 minutes, and it paid off in the 24th minute. Scott Campbell took a pass from Bill Dworsky in the box and put it on goal. Brown, diving to his left, was able to get a glove on it, but Callahan was there to deposit the rebound into the net to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage on his first goal of the season.
After another athletic save by Deric 27 minutes into the half, Carolina almost made it 2-0 when a Boston College foul gave the Tar Heels a free kick from 40 yards out. Callahan put the kick into the box for Zach Loyd, who beat Brown with a header but caught the crossbar. Eddie Ababio had the last good chance for UNC, blasting a shot just high from 30 yards out.
Deric needed one last stop to keep it 1-0 going into the break. Sherron Manswell, the reigning national player of the week, took a cross in the 42nd minute and headed the ball toward Deric, but the Spring, Texas, freshman was able to collect the dangerous ball and maintain the one goal lead.
Despite several chances from Boston College in the second half, it looked late like Deric would finish with his fourth consecutive clean sheet. But a free kick by Ayarna in the 87th minute found Bedoya just inside the penalty area, and Bedoya buried it with a one-time volley to even the score. The tying goal was Bedoya's third of the season.
After neither team scored in the last three minutes of regulation time, BC needed just 37 seconds in the first overtime to end it. Shortly after the kickoff, Bedoya played a through-ball to Konicoff, who beat Deric for his second tally of the season, giving the Eagles a stunning victory.
Both keepers were solid Satuday night, with Deric collecting six saves, while Brown tallied four stops. UNC had a slight 17-14 advantage in shots, while the Tar Heels had 10 corner kicks to two for BC.
Carolina ventures out of conference next Saturday night, as the Tar Heels travel to Richmond to face Virginia Commonwealth at 7 p.m.
