University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Louisville
No. 2 Tar Heels Knock Off No. 1 Louisville, 2-1
September 4, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 4, 2011
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| Highlights
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The dynamic attacking duo of Rob Lovejoy and Billy Schuler helped propel No. 2 North Carolina to a 2-1 win over No. 1 Louisville Sunday night at Fetzer Field. Lovejoy and Schuler have now tallied in every contest in 2011 for Carolina who will take to the road for the first time on Saturday when it opens ACC play at Virginia Tech.
The Tar Heels answered a first half goal with one of their own Sunday night before finding the game winner from a familiar place as redshirt junior Billy Schuler tallied in the 74th minute to give Carolina the 2-1 victory.
Louisville struck first when Kenney Walker lobbed a ball over the Carolina defense to a cutting Nick DeLeon who settled it and was able to get around a Tar Heel defender. Once DeLeon was one-on-one with the keeper he was able to sneak the ball past Scott Goodwin and into the back of the net.
The goal quickly quieted the Fetzer Field crowd as Carolina had controlled the possession in the early going.
The Cardinals would not be able to enjoy the advantage for very long as the Tar Heels equalized less than five minutes later.
Kirk Urso settled a ball at the midfield in the 38th minute and fed it forward to sophomore forward Carlos McCrary who eluded a defender and found Lovejoy in the middle of the attacking third.
Lovejoy settled the ball worked his way around a pair of defenders and sent a low, driving shot to the left of the keeper tying the game at one goal apiece.
Carolina came out of the locker room intent on finding a game winner in the early going. Jordan Gafa and Ben Speas found a cutting Enzo Martinez near the end line and corner flag in the 55th minute. Martinez worked his way around a defender and within 12 yards of the goal. Martinez attempted to chip the ball over Andre Boudreaux but the veteran keeper was able to punch the ball over the bar forcing a free kick.
The match became even more chippy from that point on as seven fouls and a pair of yellow cards were issued over the next 15 minutes.
Neither team was able to get much of a flow going during the stretch but the Tar Heels regained their composure with 20 minutes remaining in the contest.
The passing in the midfield continued to give the Tar Heels opportunities at runs that eventually ended with Schuler finding the back of the net in the 74th minute.
Rob Lovejoy found space on the right side and moved the ball into the attacking third, Lovejoy distributed the ball to Enzo Martinez who was just outside the right corner of the 18-yard box and dropped a perfect pass to a cutting Schuler who blasted the ball past Boudreaux for the eventual game winner.
The goal forced the Cardinals to attempt for the equalizer in the final 15 minutes but managed just one shot during the time as the Carolina backline of Jordan McCrary, Boyd Okwuonu, Matt Hedges and Jordan Gafa thwarted several Louisville chances.
Scott Goodwin finished the night with a pair of saves as he helped the Tar Heels improve to 3-0 on the year.
The goals continue to flow for Lovejoy and Schuler who have scored in all three games for the Tar Heels this season. Schuler also owns the game winner in each contest.
Up next for Carolina is the ACC opener as the Tar Heels will head to Blacksburg, Va. to take on Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.
