North Carolina
Wake Forest
No. 4 Tar Heels Claim First Conference Victory
September 17, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 16, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Jordan Gafa's first goal of the season carried No. 4 North Carolina to a 1-0 win over league rival Wake Forest Friday night at Spry Stadium. Gafa's 58th minute header off a Kirk Urso corner was just reward for a Tar Heel side that dominated possession against a physical Wake side. With the win, Carolina improves to 5-1 and 1-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
The Tar Heels and Demon Deacons (2-3-1) played to a 0-0 draw in the opening period, with both sides failing to convert on great scoring chances. Billy Schuler attacked the Wake Forest back line multiple times early, accumulating three shots in the first half. His best effort came on a shot from six yards off a pass from Lovejoy into the box. But Wake Forest keeper Michael Lisch was up to the challenge to preserve the early tie.
Carolina finally got the breakthough after 58 minutes. Urso sent a ball into the box off of a touch from Ben Speas where Gafa headed the ball, in the midst of a cluster of bodies, netting the goal past the diving Demon Deacon keeper.
The goal was Gafa's first of the year and third of his career. The header also marked the redshirt junior's second game-winning goal - the first coming in a 7-0 rout of Stetson in 2008.
Assists were credited Urso and Speas, bringing them to three and four assists on year, respectively. Speas also tallied two shots on the night, and Urso's corner that led to the goal was one of seven he served into the box.
Junior keeper Scott Goodwin recorded five saves on the night en route to his first clean sheet of the season.
The Tar Heels now lead the all-time series against the Demon Deacons 21-10-8 and have claimed three of the last four matches--one of them being a 1-0 victory in the semi-finals of the 2008 College Cup.
Carolina has two more games on the road next week as the Tar Heels travel to Spartanburg, S.C. for a mid-week bout against Wofford on Tuesday. They will follow that up with a conference showdown against eighth ranked Virginia in Charlottesville next Friday.
