University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
No. 20 UNC Falls Short At No. 4 Maryland
November 7, 2008 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 7, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the second straight match, No. 20 North Carolina took an early lead on a top-five opponent but could not hold on as No. 4 Maryland scored a 2-1 win over the Tar Heels Friday in the regular season finale Ludwig Field. Carolina drops to 11-6-1 and 3-5-0 in the ACC with the loss, while the Terrapins improved to 15-3-0 and 6-2-0 in the ACC with their eighth straight victory.
All the scoring took place in the first half with the Tar Heels striking first on a Cameron Brown goal 20 minutes before intermission. Maryland followed with scores from Drew Yates and Graham Zusi over the next 11 minutes to claim a lead it would not relinquish.
Just as they did last week against top-ranked Wake Forest, the Tar Heels took control early against the Terps, firing the first five shots of the match. Brown deposited UNC's fifth shot in the back of the net from the middle of the box for a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. Freshman Billy Schuler assisted on the goal, which was Brown's third of the season and his second in as many games.
Less than four minutes later, Maryland tied the score on its first shot of the night, a rebound goal by Yates off assists from Jeremy Hall and Casey Townsend at 28:46.
The Tar Heels came out on the offensive after Maryland tied the score and took the next three shots but could not convert, and the Terps followed just over seven minutes later with their second goal on as many shots. Zusi netted his third score of the season off assists from A.J. Delagarza and Matt Oduran at 35:50 to give Maryland a 2-1 lead heading into the half.
Carolina made a change in goal at halftime, subbing Brooks Haggerty for Jacob Wescoe, who allowed two goals and made one save in the first period.
Maryland outshot the Tar Heels 9-4 in the second half but put only one shot on goal and could not add to its lead. Haggerty made one stop for Carolina in the second period.
Terrapin keeper Zac MacMath made four stops and allowed one goal on the night. Maryland finished with a 13-12 edge in shots, while the Tar Heels put five on goal to the Terps' four.
The Tar Heels, who have dropped four straight matches for the first time since 1997, will open the 2008 ACC Championship Wednesday, Nov. 12 at Cary's WakeMed Soccer Park.
