University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UNC Wilmington
No. 3 Tar Heels Open Season With 3-1 Win
August 27, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 27, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 3 North Carolina opened the 2011 season in impressive fashion Saturday night at Fetzer Field as the Tar Heels claimed a 3-1 win over UNC Wilmington. Enzo Martinez, Billy Schuler and Rob Lovejoy all tallied for the Tar Heels.
Carolina opened the scoring ledger early into the contest Saturday night after controlling the tempo in the early going.
A UNC Wilmington defender passed the ball back to the keeper who attempted to pick it up resulting in an illegal back pass and giving the Tar Heels an early opportunity from just six yards out.
With all 11 Seahawks on the goal line the trio of Kirk Urso, Ben Speas and Enzo Martinez stood over the indirect free kick. Speas made a slight tap of the ball allowing Martinez to slam the ball past the defenders and into the back of the net for the first goal of the contest.
Carolina would threaten several more times in the first half registering seven shots, including four on goal at the break.
Martinez nearly came up with a brace in the 26th minute when Billy Schuler found the junior cutting through the midfield. Martinez collected the pass at the top of the box and fired a shot on net but UNC Wilmington's Brandon Miller was there to collect the save. Martinez forced Miller into another save just before halftime as well.
The Tar Heels came out attacking in the second half as Martinez and Urso rattled off three shots in a short burst forcing Miller into a pair of saves.
Carolina upped its lead to two goals in the 61st minute when Billy Schuler finished off a cross from Rob Lovejoy.
Jordan Gafa fed a through ball past the defense which appeared to be making its way out of bounds but Lovejoy raced to it and slid to keep the ball in play. Lovejoy flicked the ball in front of the goal to a waiting Schuler who beat the keeper for his first goal of the season.
The Seahawks would not go quietly answering almost immediately with a goal of their own. After winning a free kick just over the midfield line Daniel Roberts sent in a cross that goalkeeper Scott Goodwin was unable to get to as he attempted to punch the ball out of the box. Jacob VanCompernolle's head connected with the incoming cross and beat the Tar Heels defense for the goal, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
In the 63rd minute Kirk Urso attempted a blast from 25 yards out that forced Miller into a save and two minutes later Martinez attempted a blast of his own that Miller was also able to snare.
With the game in a bit of a lull late in the second half head coach Carlos Somoano sent starters Kirk Urso and Rob Lovejoy back into the game looking for some more breathing room.
The substitutions worked perfectly for the Tar Heels as less than two minutes later Lovejoy was able to earn the Tar Heels a corner kick in the 86th minute.
Urso stepped up to take the corner kick and sent the swinging in towards the near post where Lovejoy ran onto it and headed it past the keeper into the backside of the net. The goal gave Carolina a 3-1 advantage and the Tar Heels never looked back en route to the season-opening victory.
The Tar Heels will now have a week to rest up before hosting the Carolina Nike Classic that will feature contests against Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. and a rematch against 2010 NCAA College Cup Finalist No. 1 Louisville at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4.
