University of North Carolina Athletics
CAROLINA: Moore Steps Forward
November 7, 2013 | Men's Soccer
By Turner Walston (@TurnerWalston)
Carolina's men's soccer team has overcome an eventful off-season and a brutal schedule to position themselves well for the postseason. Part of the credit for that has to go to goalkeeper Brendan Moore. A first-year starter, Moore has a save percentage among the nation's best, at .833. In a low-scoring season, Moore's ability to stop shots has been instrumental in helping the Tar Heels keeping pace in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
After a hot start, including exhibition wins over Michigan State and Indiana, Carolina went through a difficult period from September to mid-October. A tie at Notre Dame on September 8 began an unusual stretch that saw the Tar Heels go 1-2-5 in eight games. In those games, Carolina played in 12 overtime periods.
The team that won a share of the regular season title a year ago started conference play with one loss and five ties. But even as the Tar Heel attackers were struggling to score goals, Moore was keeping his team in close games by defending the net. "The season's been a grind to break through that wall and start scoring goals," he said, "but defensively I think that we've done well and we've been really strong."
Moore's 6-foot-2 frame and athleticism have certainly played a part. "His ability to control crosses and his aerial game is tremendous," Tar Heel head coach Carlos Somoano said. "He's so athletic and tall, and he can jump. He's got a presence."
That defense has had to be strong given the bad luck and departures that have hit the Tar Heel attack. Mikey Lopez and Danny Garcia opted to sign with Major League Soccer in the off-season and Rob Lovejoy, Andy Craven and Nyambi Jabang are out for the season with injuries.
Players like SMU transfer Tyler Engel and Raby George have helped pick up the scoring slack, but it has taken some time for the offense to jell. "I think it's just taken time to click," Moore said. "When you are scoring one goal a game, it puts a little pressure on the defense, but our goal every game is a shutout. That's what we try to do every game, regardless of whether we score or don't score."
And that's the expectation Somoano has for his goalkeeper, too. "It doesn't matter if it's 0-0 or 5-0, we don't want to be scored on," the head coach said. "I think that's a very clarifying way to look at it."
Moore follows in the footsteps of Scott Goodwin, Carolina's all-time leader in shutouts and the goalkeeper for the 2011 national champions. Moore was a redshirt freshman on that team and spent three years as Goodwin's apprentice. "I think it helps that he got to play against and behind Scott, playing with a guy who is so focused and has so much concentration and is such a great leader," Somoano said. "That happened to be the one area of Brendan's game that he really needed to work on, and to be around a guy like that I think was tremendously beneficial for Brendan, and it's paid off."
Moore said Goodwin was one of the most consistent goalkeepers that he's seen, and the competition within the team helped make both players better. "He took me under his wing and really showed me how to do some things," Moore said. "In practice, we would always be going at each other in goalkeeper training to see who would get scored on. It was fun."
It has helped that every game Moore walks onto the field with an experienced and respected back line, including O.C. Okwuonu and Jonathan Campbell, who had a combined 70 starts entering the 2013 season. "It's really reassuring when those guys are playing in front of you," Moore said. "You can always count on them to make a big play and have your back. They're always talking to me, giving me confidence."
Speaking of talking, Goodwin was in constant conversation with his backs. A goalkeeper has the entire field in front of him, so he has a responsibility to communicate with his teammates.
That's something Moore has worked on and improved with experience. "Guys may not be able to see something going on behind them," he says, "and we're able to say, 'Hey, there's a player coming in behind you, so pick that guy up,' and they respond well to that." Through the course of the season, Moore has learned to be specific and timely with his comments from the goal.
"Scott was on the high end in that regard," Somoano said of goalkeeper communication. "Brendan really benefitted from seeing that on a day to day basis. He's very different and he has such a different personality than Scott."
Last Friday night, Carolina defeated Virginia 1-0 in Charlottesville, snapping an 11-game Cavalier unbeaten streak and ensuring a spot in the ACC tournament. The Tar Heels wrap up the regular season with two home games this week. The first was another 1-0 shutout Tuesday against Georgia State and Friday welcomes NC State to town for at 7 p.m., kick off.
As the season winds down, they are still looking to secure what seed the Heels will be in the conference tournament before NCAA championship play begins. "Those results early in the season teach you something, and it gives you experience playing overtime, which is big," Moore said. "In the postseason, if you slip up in overtime, then your season's over, so I think that will help us out if we get there."
For his part, Moore said he thinks his best soccer is in in front of him, and he can build on the playing experience he's gained this season along with his work with Goodwin. Still, he's got to be his own man.
"He's got to find a way to be the best goalkeeper that Brendan Moore can be and not try to be somebody else," Somoano said. "I think that's what I'm pleased with. He's kind of doing it his way."
