University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Old Dominion
No.4 Carolina Rolls To 3-0 Win Over No. 15 Old Dominion
September 27, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 27, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 4 North Carolina posted its fourth consecutive shutout en route to a 3-0 win over No. 15 Old Dominion Tuesday night at Fetzer Field. Kirk Urso, Enzo Martinez and Rob Lovejoy all tallied for the Tar Heels who improved to 8-1-0 on the season, while Old Dominion fell to 4-2-0 overall.
The Tar Heels jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute when they were able to earn a corner kick after several early opportunities to break through in the scoresheet.
Martin Murphy stood over the corner kick and sent an in-swinging ball towards the top of the box. Matt Hedges was waiting for the corner and headed the ball to his right where Kirk Urso ran onto it and blasted the ball into the upper 90 past the Monarchs to open the scoring.
Enzo Martinez thought he upped Carolina's lead to 2-0 later in the first half when he was able to get the ball in space just outside the box. Martinez dribbled to his right and sent in a curling shot that looked to be on target but the ball ricocheted off the right post and out of the box where a charging Rob Lovejoy sent the rebound out of play for a goal kick.
Old Dominion's Victor Francoz came up with the save of the night in the dying minutes of the first half when he was able to reach a bending shot from Martin Murphy that was destined for the goal. As a result of the save, Carolina entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The Tar Heels struck early into the second half to put themselves in the driver's seat the rest of the way.
Redshirt Freshman Glen Long came on at the break to give the Tar Heels a spark up top and was able to do just that in the 48th minute. Billy Schuler dropped a pass from near the top of the box to a cutting Long who was able to get a slight touch on the ball before being taken down resulting in a penalty.
Enzo Martinez was called upon to take the penalty for Carolina and delivered a driven shot into the back of the net for his sixth goal of the year.
Despite the two-goal advantage the Tar Heels continued to press forward and challenge the Monarch defense.
Sophomore Rob Lovejoy made several runs down the right flank throughout the night taking on the ODU left back but was never able find open space for a shot until the 89th minute.
Lovejoy was able to dispossess an Old Dominion defender in the 89th minute and then proceeded to dribble to his right and took on Francoz where he slotted a ball past the keeper and into the goal for his fourth tally of the season.
The win is the fifth straight for the Tar Heels who recorded their fourth consecutive shutout on the back of three saves from junior goalkeeper Scott Goodwin.
Goodwin and the Tar Heels have not allowed a goal in four straight matches for the first time since the opening four matches of the 2006 season and own a scoreless streak of 422:36.
Up next for the Tar Heels is a visit from rival Duke on Friday as the Tar Heels and Blue Devils will battle for a point in the Battle of the Blues competition, presented by Continental Tire. The match will be shown live on Fox Soccer as the NSCAA National Game of the Week.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field.
