University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
Shriver, No. 16 Tar Heels Down Devils
October 10, 2008 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 10, 2008
DURHAM, N.C. - ehind senior forward Brian Shriver's second multi-goal game of the season and a stout defensive effort, No. 16 North Carolina posted a 2-0 win at No. 24 Duke Friday at Koskinen Stadium. The Tar Heels (9-2-1, 2-2-0 ACC) escaped with a win in Durham for the first time since 2000 and also snapped a two-match Atlantic Coast Conference skid in the process.
The victory also extends Carolina's lead in the Carlyle Cup, the all-sports competition between the rival Tar Heels and Blue Devils, to 3-0.5.
With fellow forward Eddie Ababio out Friday after receiving a red card last week against Virginia, Shriver stepped up with goals in the 18th and 74th minutes to secure Carolina's third straight win over the Blue Devils (6-4-1, 2-2-1 ACC). Shriver now has a team-best nine goals this season after scoring eight times in his first three seasons in Chapel Hill.
While Shriver provided the offense, senior goalkeeper Jacob Wescoe, who made four saves, anchored the Carolina defense to its fourth shutout of the season. After taking a lead in the first period, UNC held possession for much of the second half, limiting Duke to just two shots after halftime. The Blue Devils were not credited with a shot until just under 19 minutes remained in the second period. UNC outshot Duke on the night by a 10-7 margin.
After the Blue Devils missed on a couple of quality early chances, the Tar Heels broke the ice on just their second shot of the night - a header from Shriver at 17:42. Outside back Zach Loyd made a run up the right side and crossed the ball from deep in the corner towards the far post, where Shriver headed home the first score of the night from six yards out.
Less than two minutes after giving UNC an early lead, the Clearwater, Fla., product nearly lifted the Tar Heels a two-goal advantage on a second header, but a Duke back save held the Carolina lead to a single goal. Shriver's header capped a flurry in front of the Blue Devil net that also included a blocked shot by Michael Callahan and a shot by Billy Schuler off the cross bar prior to Shriver's near miss.
Both teams tallied five shots in the opening half, with the Blue Devils missing on a pair of chances prior to Shriver's goal. Duke's Mike Grella had an early goal called off due to offsides, and then Wescoe came up big for the Tar Heels in the 33rd minute with a save on a point blank shot by the Devils' Joseph Pak.
Shriver finally converted a second goal after intermission when he scored from eight yards out on the left side to stake the Tar Heels to a 2-0 lead at 73:16. After being taken down in the box by a Duke defender with no foul called, Shriver played on, got back up and sent the ball past Blue Devils' goalkeeper Brendan Fitzgerald for the second time on the night.
Shriver's second goal of the evening was the Tar Heels' 29th of the season, which surpasses their scoring total of all of last season in just 12 matches. UNC scored just 28 goals in 20 games a year ago.
The Tar Heels are back in action Tuesday at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
