North Carolina
NC State
Schuler Leads Tar Heels Past Wolfpack With OT Winner
October 28, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 28, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina senior class went out in style Friday night as they helped the No. 3 Tar Heels notch a 2-1 overtime win over rival NC State at Fetzer Field. Redshirt junior Billy Schuler netted the game winner in the third minute of overtime to improve Carolina's ACC unbeaten streak to six straight.
After battling to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes the Tar Heels were looking for a quick game winner and Billy Schuler delivered once again as the senior striker slotted a ball past the NC State keeper to provide the Tar Heels with three crucial points in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.
Fellow senior Kirk Urso forced a turnover in the midfield in the third minute of extra time and fed a cutting Schuler a through ball. Schuler gathered the ball outside the 18-yard box and dribbled at NC State's Fabian Otte. Schuler unleashed a shot that curled around Otte and found the back of the net to give Carolina its second overtime win of the season.
Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead when senior Matt Hedges put the Tar Heels in front with his third goal of the campaign. Rob Lovejoy had a short-sided opportunity in the 31st minute that Otte cleared out of play awarding the Tar Heels a corner kick.
Kirk Urso stepped up to the right flag and sent a ball into the box that was deflected out by the Wolfpack defense. Drew McKinney chased down the ball near the goal line and sent a cross back into the melee that was deflected once again. Rob Lovejoy and Billy Schuler scrambled for the ball and Lovejoy attempted to hit a shot that rolled across the goal face to a waiting Hedges who tapped home the sitter to give Carolina a 1-0 advantage.
Junior Enzo Martinez would tally a pair of efforts later in the first half but was unable to put either on target as the Tar Heels entered the break with a 1-0 lead.
NC State came out firing in the second half registering four shots in the first six minutes, including a strike from Nazmi Albadawi that was deflected out for a corner kick.
The Tar Heels regrouped and started to control possession once again after the initial flurry from the Wolfpack. Martinez had another opportunity in the 70th minute when he found open space and unleashed a shot from 22 yards out that sailed over the bar.
NC State took advantage of a Tar Heel miscue in the 75th minute when ball was sent into the box from 40 yards out. The Tar Heel defenders were unable to clear the ball as Nader Jaibat jumped on the turnover and slotted a ball past Scott Goodwin to knot the score at 1-1.
Carolina started to push forward once again in the final 10 minutes of action and nearly found the breakthrough goal on several occasions.
Mikey Lopez hit a strike from 23 yards out after a corner kick was deflected out of the box. Lopez' shot was dipping at the end but Otte was able to get a fist on the ball to tip it over the bar and keep the match tied at 1-1.
Schuler challenged Otte twice in the final three minutes of play but Otte was up to the task both times to send the match into overtime.
After tying Maryland the week prior the Tar Heels were looking for the golden goal early on and Schuler's tally provided just that in the 93rd minute of play.
The goal was Schuler's 12th of the year as he continued his impressive campaign and is now just three goals from entering the top 10 in career goals scored as the Allentown, N.J., native has scored 25 in his three full years.
Up next for the Tar Heels is a trip to Newton, Mass. to take on No. 13 Boston College. Carolina controls its own destiny as the Tar Heels sit a point ahead of Maryland in the ACC standings with 14 points.
