No Problem for UNC In Games Without Duo

While Kluegel and Reddick were in Chicago on Sunday donning the stars and stripes of the U.S. women's national soccer team, the North Carolina women's soccer team passed the second of its first two tests without the duo.

The Tar Heels beat No. 8 Penn State 3-0 Sunday at Fetzer Field, the second of two shutouts they recorded during this weekend's Carolina Nike Classic. UNC blanked Charlotte 5-0 on Friday.

Freshman Sara Randolph, who made her first start Friday, said the team worked to pick up the slack.

"You gotta work your tail off," she said. "Your effort can never drop."

Kluegel and Reddick were selected Saturday as part of the national team roster for the U.S. Nike Cup, which runs through Sept. 16.

Both should return to the Tar Heels' lineup in time for UNC's Sept. 21 game against Georgia.

The two saw second-half action in the United States' 4-1 Sunday victory against Germany at Soldier Field.

Back in Chapel Hill, North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance juggled his lineup to compensate for their absence, moving senior forward Anne Remy to Kluegel's midfield spot and junior Leslie Gaston to Reddick's central defender position.

Sophomore defender Carmen Watley, also making her first career starts, and Randolph completed North Carolina's patchwork lineup for this weekend's matches.

Friday, Dorrance said he was not expecting Kluegel or Reddick in Sunday's lineup, but said he was not worried about the team.

"I think the defense played very well," he said. "We only struggled in the second half when we substituted a lot."

Sunday, the defense held Penn State to five shots on goal. Penn State All-American forward Christie Welsh was held to one shot, a fourth-minute strike that glanced off the crossbar.

Welsh, who scored twice in the Nittany Lions' 3-2 win at UNC on Sept. 12, 1999, said the Tar Heels' defense didn't allow her or her teammates to establish any offensive rhythm.

"I don't think they keyed on me, to be honest," she said. "I think they played the way they always play."

And while UNC's defense without Reddick remained strong, its offense without Kluegel did not seem to struggle either, scoring eight goals on 36 shots in the two games.

UNC assistant coach Chris Ducar said the offense was focused on finishing scoring opportunities.

"When we finally got those opportunities, they were focused and ready to go," he said. "And that was the margin of victory."

But while North Carolina's weekend went well, the team received a scare Friday when junior midfielder Susan Bush injured her right knee against Charlotte.

Tests of Bush's anterior cruciate ligament, which she tore in practice last October, were inconclusive Saturday, and she was cleared to play.

Bush played about 45 minutes Sunday and said she "felt great," but said she would undergo MRI testing today to determine the extent of her injury.

Ducar said if the injury sidelines Bush, the team would lose necessary experience and energy.

"Susan Bush adds a dimension that makes her a national team player," he said. "A team just has to deal with her."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.