University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Tar Heels And Terps Battle To 1-1 Draw
October 21, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The second-ranked North Carolina men's soccer team overcame a goal deficit in the second half against No. 3 Maryland (13-1-2, 4-1-1 ACC) but were unable to come up with the game winner as the teams battled to a draw after 110 minutes of action. Enzo Martinez tallied the lone goal for the Tar Heels as the junior converted a penalty in the 60th minute.
North Carolina and Maryland held each other scoreless through the opening forty-five minutes but not for a lack of trying as the Tar Heels tallied seven shots in the first half, putting three on frame.
Two of the three shots on goal came in a flurry in just the eighth minute when Ben Speas got the ball at his feet just a few paces from the goal. Speas fired a shot on goal that goalkeeper Will Swaim was able to deflect away but Speas jumped on the rebound.
Speas' second attempt was blocked the Terrapin defense and fellow forward Billy Schuler ran onto the ball and sent a low shot towards the left corner of the goal that Swaim knocked out for a corner kick.
Speas would have another string of shots later in the first half sending one wide of the target and forcing Swaim into another save in the 32nd minute of a chippy first half that saw three yellow cards issued.
Maryland struck less than six minutes into the second half when Kaoru Forbess threw a ball into the box and a trio of Tar Heel defenders were unable to clear the ball. John Stertzer ran onto the ball and slotted it past Scott Goodwin to give the Terrapins a 1-0 advantage.
The goal seemed to spark the Terrapins who were forced to chase the ball throughout the first half as Carolina held possession throughout. Stertzer put another shot on net in the 52nd minute forcing Goodwin to punch the ball clear to keep the deficit at just one.
After earning a goal kick the Tar Heels seemed to regain their composure and continued to mount an attack.
Ben Speas nearly came up with the equalizer in the 58th minute when he unleashed a shot from 25 yards out that dipped at the end but not enough as it ricocheted off the crossbar.
The rebound was punched out by Swaim but Kirk Urso was there to corral the rebound and put another shot on frame that Swaim was able to grab.
Carolina nearly broke through in the 60th minute when Speas settled a ball on the fringe of the box and worked his way to his right and had an open net. Speas fired a shot but London Woodberry was there to keep the ball out of the net.
The rebound off of Woodberry bounced to Schuler who fired another shot on target but Woodberry was whistled for an intentional handball in the box to get a red card and award the Tar Heels a penalty.
Junior Enzo Martinez strolled to the spot and converted the penalty to equalize the match at 1-1 for his eighth goal of the campaign.
The Tar Heels would play a man up the rest of the way due to the red card but were unable to find the game winner despite several chances.
Despite playing a man down the Terps continued to threaten the Tar Heel goal on occasion but goalkeeper Scott Goodwin arose to the occasion and was able to punch away efforts from Jereme Raley and Widner Saint Cyr in the 76th and 77th minutes.
Jordan Gafa had the best chance of picking up the game winner late in the second half as he moved into the midfield after Drew McKinney came on in the 85th minute. Gafa gathered a pass 12 yards from the goal, turned and fired a shot on target but Swaim came up with one of his seven saves of the contest.
Carolina earned a free kick in the final minute of regulation but Enzo Martinez sent the shot attempt into the wall sending the game into extra time.
Martinez tallied the lone shot in the first overtime period as the Tar Heels maintained possession but were unable to break through.
The only shot attempt in the second overtime session came from Schuler in the dying seconds as he put a last gasp effort over the cross bar to end the match in a 1-1 draw.
The tie is the second for the Tar Heels in ACC play as Carolina remains two points behind the Terrapins in the ACC standings with 11 with two matches remaining.
Next up for the Tar Heels is a trip to Columbia, S.C. on Tuesday for the final non-conference match of the regular season. Kick off is set for 7 p.m.
