University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Gear Up For Final Non-Conference Test
October 24, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 24, 2011
Watch Live Online | Game Notes
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 3 North Carolina will take to the road for its final non-conference test of the regular season Tuesday when the Tar Heels take on South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. at 7 p.m. The Tar Heels have claimed eight straight wins over the Gamecocks, including the last two in Columbia.
The Tar Heels are looking to snap a two-match winless after dropping a 1-0 decision to Davidson on Monday and battling No. 3 Maryland to a 1-1 draw on Friday. The loss at Davidson snapped a nine-game unbeaten streak for Carolina, its longest of the year.
The two losses suffered by Carolina in 2011 have come on the road but not for a lack of effort as the Tar Heels out shot their opponents 38-11 combined in both 1-0 losses.
South Carolina comes into Tuesday's North-South Derby on a three-game winning streak having knocked off Marshall (3-1) and FIU (4-3) in conference action, while adding a 2-0 win over NC State last Tuesday.
The Tar Heels and Gamecocks have faced two common opponents thus far in 2011 with North Carolina going 2-0 against Clemson and College of Charleston, while South Carolina was 0-2 against the Tigers and Cougars.
radlee Baladez leads the Gamecocks in scoring with seven goals and three assists in 14 matches, while Braden Troy has found the back of the net five times.
The Tar Heels garnered a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Gamecocks in Chapel Hill a year ago when Rob Lovejoy made his first appearance of the 2010 season and struck for a breakaway goal.
Lovejoy has turned into a consistent threat offensively for the Tar Heels in 2011 with five goals and three assists to rank third on the squad with 13 points. The three-headed offensive monster of Lovejoy and fellow forwards Ben Speas and Billy Schuler have combined for 16 goals and 11 assists in 2011.
Enzo Martinez added to his season goal total Friday night when he converted his third penalty of the season to tie the match at 1-1. The goal was Martinez' eighth of the year as the junior midfielder took over the team lead in points with 23.
Up next for the Tar Heels is a visit from rival NC State for a Friday night contest at Fetzer Field.
