University of North Carolina Athletics
Heels To Know: Men's Soccer
September 11, 2014 | Men's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL - Get to know some of the key performers for the Tar Heel men's soccer team with this feature from the CAROLINA digital magazine.
By Michael Melvin
Boyd “O.C.” Okwuonu
The senior defender from Edmond, Oklahoma is Carolina's anchor in the back. Okwuonu brings a tenacity and physicality to a defense that doesn't let many balls past its line. Last year Okwuonu started all 20 games and earned second team All-America honors, ACC Defender of the Year, first team All-ACC, and NSCAA All-South Region first team. Okwuonu is arguably Carolina's best player, and his leadership in the back this season will be critical for the team's chances at competing for a national championship.
The fifth-year senior medically redshirted last year after leg injuries sidelined him for the whole season. Two years ago, Lovejoy came back from offseason surgery and played 11 games and netted five goals, second-most on the team. The Greensboro native is one of Carolina's most experienced attack players and his breakaway speed and fighter's mentality bring a ferociousness to the offense. Lovejoy has already made a significant impact this year by scoring a goal and assisting on two others through the first three games. His ability to work alongside Tyler Engel and Andy Craven in the attack will be crucial for Carolina's postseason success.
Sophomore Omar Holness is one of Carolina's young bright stars. Holness was named to the ACC All-Freshman team, Soccer America All-Freshman team, and led the team with 40 shots on goal last season. The Kingston, Jamaica native has also served as a vice captain for his country's U20 team that advanced to the final stages of World Cup qualifying. As a midfielder, Holness is known for controlling possession and consistently creating opportunities for Carolina's attack. His creativity and technical skills will be critical for Carolina's ability to create from the midfield and hold possession against tough opponents.
Fifth-year senior Andy Craven is the heart of UNC's offensive attack this season. After medically redshirting last year (along with Lovejoy), Craven has come back with a vengeance in 2014, scoring two goals through three games. The St. Simon's Island, Ga. native has a nose for goal and his creativity and work ethic open up scoring chances consistently. Craven is an opportunistic player who has a good sense of space that allows him to make strong off-the-ball runs while also being a distributor for the Tar Heel attack. Craven will fight to be Carolina's leading scorer this season (as he was in 2012) and will be crucial to putting points on the board for the Tar Heels this season.
