University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
ETSU
Schuler's OT Strike Sends No. 2 Carolina Past ETSU, 2-1
September 22, 2009 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 22, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sophomore midfielder Billy Schuler's 98th minute goal lifted No. 2 North Carolina past ETSU, 2-1, Tuesday at a rain-soaked Fetzer Field. After falling behind early, the Tar Heels (5-0-1) responded with a Zach Loyd goal in the 33rd minute to tie the game and finally broke through the Buccaneer defense for Schuler's winner with 2:34 left in the first overtime period.
With the score knotted at one for over 60 minutes and Carolina looking for the game-winner, freshman Enzo Martinez played a through ball to Schuler in the box. The Allentown, Pa., product chipped a 10-yard shot past ETSU goalkeeper Scott Rosman, who charged from the net on the play, for his second goal in as many games.
Brooks Haggerty made three stops in net for the Tar Heels, while Rosman halted four shots for the Buccaneers (1-3-2).
ETSU scratched first when Sean Hoek headed home a Theo Yang corner kick for a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute, but the Tar Heels overcame a slow start to tie the score at one on Loyd's 33rd-minute strike, his second of the season.
A penalty kick was issued when a Tar Heel was fouled in the box by a Buccaneer defender as Kirk Urso sent a 30-yard free kick from the right side towards the far post. Rosman saved Loyd's initial penalty attempt but could not corral the ball, and the Tar Heels' captain drilled the rebound into the back of the net for the equalizer.
Carolina outshot the Buccaneers by a 6-3 margin in the second period, but neither team managed much in the way of quality chances. Bill Dworsky added a spark off the bench with a pair of second-half shots on goal.
Late in regulation, Martinez dribbled through the ETSU backline but had his scoring chance snuffed by a defender, as the Tar Heels went to overtime for just the second time this season.
The Buccaneers squandered their best second-half opportunity when Kyle Franklin sent an open shot wide of the net in the 72nd minute.
Both teams managed one shot in the extra period before Schuler ended the match with his second goal of the season and the sixth of his career. The Tar Heels finished with an 11-8 edge in shots and a 3-2 advantage on corner kicks.
Carolina is back in action Friday at No. 4 Maryland at 8 p.m. The rematch of last year's national title match will air live on the Fox Soccer Channel.
