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Sept. 26, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – UNC Freshman Adam Sloustcher scored off a Tim Merritt header in the 67th minute to lift the North Carolina men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over No. 12 Virginia in the Tar Heels’ Atlantic Coast Conference opener Sunday at Fetzer Field. Carolina improves to 2-3-2 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play, while UVa drops to 5-2-0 and 1-1-0 in the ACC.
With the match knotted at one midway though the second half, sophomore Ted Odgers served the ball to Merritt just outside the 18-yard box. Merritt then dropped a header over the Cavalier defense to the far post where Sloustcher guided the ball past UVa keeper Ryan Burke for the game-winning score. The goal was the first of Sloustcher’s collegiate career. Both Merritt and Odgers picked up assists on the play.
The Tar Heels also claimed a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute of play when a Virginia defender deflected a Michael Harrington shot into the net. Harrington got credit for the goal, and Marcus Storey tallied his team-best fifth assist of the year on the play. Storey dribbled from midfield a fed a streaking Harrington, who was streaking down the far side and took the shot from just outside the six-yard box. The ball slipped under Burke and off a UVa defender into the net.
The Cavaliers found the equalizer nine minutes later on Adam Cristman’s fourth goal of the year. The score came off a 28-yard free kick from Hunter Freeman, who served the ball to the far post where Cristman headed it past UNC goalkeeper Justin Hughes, who played all 90 minutes in goal and made one save.
The Tar Heels held a 9-6 advantage in shots for the match and took eight corners to the Cavaliers two.
The win was Carolina’s first at home this season and broke a five-match winless streak at Fetzer Field for the Tar Heels. UNC has now won three of the last five meetings with Virginia and tied the all-time series, 30-30-7.
Virginia will return to home action on Wednesday, September 29th when UVa hosts UMBC in a non-conference match at 7:00 PM at Klockner Stadium.
UNC returns to action Wednesday at No. 4 UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m.
Scoring:1. UNC - Michael Harrington (Marcus Storey), 9:192. UVa - Adam Cristman (Hunter Freeman), 18:543. UNC - Adam Sloustcher (Tim Merritt, Ted Odgers), 66:32Goals: Michael Harrington (UNC), Adam Sloustcher (UNC),Adam Cristman (UVa)Assists: Tim Merritt (UNC), Ted Odgers (UNC), Marcus Storey(UNC), Hunter Freeman (UVa)Goalie Stats: Justin Hughes (UNC): 1 goal allowed,1 saves, 90 minutes; Ryan Burke (UVa),2 goals allowed,0 saves, 90 minutesShots: UNC 9, UVa 6Fouls: UVa 20, UNC 18Corners: UNC 8, UVa 2Offsides: UNC 3, UVa 2Attendance: 1398
Score by HalvesTeam 1-2-FinalUVA 1-0-1UNC 1-1-2