University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Carolina Railhawks (Exhibition)
No. 4 UNC Takes Down RailHawks, 3-1
August 30, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 30, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The No. 4 Tar Heels capped off a perfect 3-0 preseason with a 2-1 win over the visiting Carolina RailHawks Monday night at Fetzer Field. Carolina will return to action Friday night when it hosts No. 1 Akron in a rematch from the 2009 College Cup semifinals.
Alex Dixon put the Tar Heels on top in the opening half when he beat the RailHawk keeper to a ball after a failed back pass from Cory Eleino. Dixon chased down the deflection and calmly moved into the box and curled the shot into the back of the net for his first goal of the preseason.
Carolina dominated the shot totals in the first half as the Tar Heels rattled off 13 shots putting four on frame. Meanwhile, the Railhawks managed just three shots as the Tar Heel midfield maintained possession throughout the half.
The RailHawks equalized in the 46th minute when Andriy Budnyy was tackled in the box by goalkeeper Brendan Moore. Moore came out to play ball and slid into Budnyy who had dribbled around the Carolina keeper. Budnyy put away the penalty knotting the score at one apiece.
The tie score would last less than 12 minutes when Josh Rice fired a shot from 20 yards out into the top right corner. Rice's shot was a laser that the RailHawk keeper was unable reach putting the Tar Heels in front for good at 2-1.
Carlos McCrary made it 3-1 in favor of the Tar Heels when he put away a feed from Robbie Lovejoy in the 85th minute. Lovejoy forced a turnover in the middle of the field and found a cutting McCrary who kicked the ball with his right foot and placed the ball in the top right corner for the goal.
The Tar Heels will open up the 2010 season on Friday when they host No. 1 Akron in the Carolina Nike Classic. Opening kick is set for 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field.
