University of North Carolina Athletics
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No. 15 Carolina, No. 14 UCLA Play To 1-1 Draw
September 7, 2008 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 7, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Freshman midfielder Kirk Urso scored in the 79th minute for No. 15 North Carolina, but No. 14 UCLA answered with a goal in the 86th minute in a 1-1 tie Sunday at the Deacon Fall Classic at Spry Stadium. Following the draw, the Tar Heels remain unbeaten at 3-0-1, while the Bruins stand 1-2-1.
For his efforts Sunday, Urso earned a spot on the all-tournament team with fellow Tar Heels Eddie Ababio and Ryan Adeleye.
After neither team scratched over the first 78 minutes, Urso's free kick strike gave Carolina the first lead of the afternoon at 78:33. Following a handball just outside the box by Bruin defender Brad Rusin, Urso sent the 23-yard free kick off UCLA keeper Trevor Hunter and then off the left post and into the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.
The lead held until the 85:06 mark when Rusin atoned for his handball with the equalizer for the Bruins. On a scramble following a UCLA corner, Maxwell Griffin sent a header to the right side to Rusin, who scored from four yards out to tie the match.
Carolina nearly ended the match in regulation in the 88th minute on a breakaway shot by Michael Callahan but Hunter was able to save and send the match to overtime.
UCLA outshot the Tar Heels 5-2 in extra time, but neither team could convert the game-winner. The Bruins missed on what was perhaps the best scoring chance when Griffin sent a header just wide of the net in the 92nd minute.
UNC goalkeeper Jacob Wescoe continued his strong play with four saves and one goal allowed. Hunter posted the same numbers for UCLA.
Additionally, the Bruins registered a 19-10 edge on the shot chart and a 7-4 advantage on corner kicks.
After a fairly uneventful first period that featured just four shots, each team came out with a shot in the first two minutes of second half. Ababio cleared a shot by UCLA's Jason Leopoldo off the line to keep the Bruins off the board. Griffin followed with a header off the cross bar in the 53rd minute.
The Tar Heels just missed converting in the 59th minute when Brian Shriver had a shot saved by Hunter, and Ababio followed with a rebound shot that was blocked by a Bruin defender.
The Tar Heels are back in action Friday in their ACC opener against NC State at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field.
