University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Carolina Shuts Out Virginia, 3-0
September 23, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 23, 2011
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Fourth-ranked North Carolina rolled to a 3-0 win at Virginia Friday night as the Tar Heels pushed their win streak to four as Billy Schuler, Enzo Martinez and Carlos McCrary all tallied. The 3-0 win was the third straight shutout and delivered Virginia its worst home loss since 2004.
Junior forward Billy Schuler struck for his team-leading sixth goal of the year in the 29th minute to provide the Tar Heels with an early edge. Enzo Martinez started charging up the field and was dispossessed for a second before Schuler won the ball back for the Tar Heels.
Schuler dropped the ball to Martinez who returned the favor and Schuler slotted the ball past the keeper from 10 yards out for the game's opening tally.
Following an early opportunity that allowed Virginia's Will Bates a clear shot on goal that keeper Scott Goodwin saved in the opening minute, the Tar Heels started linking up passes and controlling possession.
The Tar Heels kept pushing the rest of the first half but were unable to tally a second goal.
The Cavaliers put pressure on the Tar Heels to open the second half and were able to earn three consecutive corners in the 67th minute but the Tar Heels successfully defended all three chances to maintain a 1-0 lead.
Billy Schuler was creating havoc on the Virginia backline all night and in the 76th minute worked his way into the box and was tripped up from behind. The referee issued a penalty as a result of the tackle.
Enzo Martinez stepped up to the spot for the Tar Heels and hit a driving ball into the upper left corner for his fifth goal of the season.
Martinez' penalty conversion was the 20th straight for the Tar Heels after a perfect 17-17 performance in 2010.
The Tar Heels tacked on an insurance goal in the 81st minute when Martinez again created for Carolina. Martinez played a ball wide to Mikey Lopez who immediately sent in a cross to the back post.
Carlos McCrary ran onto the ball and headed it to the back post beating the Virginia keeper to give Carolina the 3-0 advantage.
The shutout runs Carolina's streak to three consecutive clean sheets, the longest stretch since the Tar Heels blanked Clemson, NC State and Boston College late in 2010.
The 3-0 win over the Wahoos was the largest for the Tar Heels since a 5-1 win in 1994 and was the largest in Charlottesville ever, eclipsing two-goal wins in 1965 and 1975.
Up next for the Tar Heels is a top 25 clash against Old Dominion on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Fetzer Field.
