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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
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UNC Asheville
Dixon's Header Sends No. 12 Tar Heels Past UNC Asheville
September 30, 2008 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 30, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman forward Alex Dixon headed home the game-winner in the 68th minute, and senior forward Eddie Ababio notched two assists to lead No. 12 North Carolina past UNC Asheville, 2-1, Tuesday at Fetzer Field. Sophomore midfielder Cameron Brown also scored as the Tar Heels (8-1-1) surpassed their victory total from last season in just their 10th match of 2008.
UNC was 7-8-5 last year and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.
After scoring an NCAA-best eight goals last time out against East Tennessee State, Carolina picked up where it left off just over four minutes into the match on their first shot of the night. Ababio beat a pair of Bulldog defenders down the left flank and crossed the ball to Brown, who finished from 12 yards into the upper right corner of the net for his first goal of the season. He is the 11th different Tar Heel to score this year.
The action slowed from there until the 41st minute when the Bulldogs' J.W. Gallagher picked up his second yellow card, forcing UNCA to play a man down for the rest of the match.
The Tar Heels quieted down following their first goal, and Asheville (2-4-2) pulled even in the 56th minute with their first-ever goal against Carolina in nine meetings. Connor Holzinger played long through ball from just past midfield that found a streaking Scott Szymanski on the left side. He finished past UNC keeper Jacob Wescoe to the far post for the equalizer and his first score of 2008.
The game-winner would come just over 11 minutes later off the head of Dixon, who has four goals off the bench for UNC. After an initial touch by Ababio, freshman midfielder Kirk Urso sent a cross from the deep left-hand corner across the mouth of the goal to a leaping Dixon, who headed it into the upper 90 at the far post for a 2-1 Tar Heel lead.
Wescoe made one save went the distance in goal for UNC, which matched its best record through 10 games since 2005 with its sixth straight victory at home. Lassi Hurskainen made four stops for the Bulldogs.
The Tar Heels outshot UNCA, 17-5, and posted a 14-4 edge on corner kicks.
Carolina returns to Atlantic Coast Conference action Friday against Virginia at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field. A webcast of the match will be carried live and on-demand via ACC Select.
