University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina And Syracuse Meet Friday Night For First Time
October 17, 2013 | Men's Soccer
Friday, Oct. 18, 2013 • 6:30 p.m.
Chapel Hill, N.C. • Fetzer Field
CHAPEL HILL - No. 11 North Carolina hosts Syracuse Friday night in the first-ever meeting between the two programs in men's soccer. Kick off is slated for 6:30 p.m., from Fetzer Field.
The match will be televised by the Regional Sports Network and is also available on ESPN3.
Carolina improved its standings within the ACC with a key 2-1 road victory at Boston College last Saturday night. Tyler Engel and Josh Rice both found the back of the net for the Tar Heels in securing the win over the Eagles.
Syracuse is coming off a scoreless draw with Pittsburgh last Saturday evening in upstate New York, and is winless within the ACC since a 5-0 drubbing of NC State back on Oct. 4.
One of the match ups to keep an eye on is the vaunted Carolina defense against the heralded Syracuse offensive attack. The Tar Heels have allowed only eight goals all year long, the second best figure in the ACC. Meanwhile, the Orange has 26 goals to its credit, the second most in the league.
Also of note, both teams respective keepers - UNC's Brendan Moore and Syracuse's Alex Bono - have played every minute for their clubs in 2013. Moore continues to rank among the top net minders in the nation. His 0.65 goals-against-average is 14th nationally and third in the ACC.
Bono has been nearly as good, allowing 13 goals in 13 matches for a 0.97 GAA.
Engel's goal last Saturday gave him a team-leading four for Carolina and now owns the team lead with nine total points.
The Orange's Emil Ekblom heads his club with 19 points on an ACC-leading eight goals and three assists.
North Carolina steps out of league play to host in-state foe UNC Wilmington on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
