University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
No. 1 Tar Heels Fall In Overtime At Virginia Tech
September 10, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 10, 2011
BLACKSBURG, Va. - No. 1 North Carolina dropped its first match of the season Saturday night as Virginia Tech's James Shupp tallied in the 103rd minute to give the Hokies a 1-0 overtime win in Blacksburg, Va. The regular season conference loss is the first for the Tar Heels since Oct. 17, 2009, a span of 10 straight matches.
Despite outshooting the Hokies 22-8 on the night, the Tar Heels were unable to find the back of the net for the first time this season as Virginia Tech jumped on a chance in the second overtime session to claim the upset win.
The Tar Heels came out firing early as Billy Schuler and Ben Speas registered a shot apiece in the opening six minutes but neither challenged the keeper.
Enzo Martinez forced the first save of the night in the 16th minute when he put a shot on net that Virginia Tech's Kyle Renfro snared. Schuler and substitute Cooper Vandermaas-Peeler each forced a save out of Renfro later in the half but were unable to get the ball past the keeper.
Carolina came out firing in the second half once again, registering five shots and a pair of corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes. The closest chance came in a flurry in the 53rd minute when Martinez sent a shot off the post and Kirk Urso was denied on a rebound try.
Virginia Tech earned three corner kicks in the final 10 minutes but were unable to beat the Tar Heel defense as Carolina was able to clear out each opportunity.
After a scoreless 90 minutes the Tar Heels and Hokies would go to overtime each looking for the golden goal.
Neither team was able to break through in the opening 10 minutes of overtime, despite Enzo Martinez and Jordan Gafa's best efforts late in the period as the pair forced Renfro into two more saves.
The Hokies broke through with just their eighth shot of the night in the third minute of the second overtime period to claim the upset victory. Defender James Shupp finished off a bouncing ball in the box by firing a shot far post from six yards out for the game winner.
The loss is the first regular season conference loss for the Tar Heels since a 2-1 set back against Boston College on Oct. 17, 2009, a span of 10 consecutive matches after going undefeated in 2010.
The Tar Heels will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they host James Madison in a non-conference affair at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field.
