Gell Finds Redemption With OT Goal

But only one got to redeem himself for his missed kicks.

After his penalty kick was stopped in the 71st minute, UNC forward Mike Gell rebounded by scoring the game's lone goal in the 95th minute. The strike gave UNC a 1-0 overtime victory in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

Gell had four shots on goal against the Eagles, including a first-period blast that was knocked away by American goalkeeper Michael Behonick.

But he shook off the earlier misses and got open in the box during the overtime period. David Testo sent it into Gell, who then split two defenders and beat Behonick to the near post.

"I was just so happy for the seniors and to make up for the penalty kick, of course," Gell said. "It was great. I had so many chances, so it made me want to work that much harder to get it through the net."

After a handball by an American player in the box, UNC got a penalty kick. Gell said he looked around at his teammates and saw most of them standing around, so he decided to take the shot.

Gell chose to hit it low and left, but Behonick guessed right and slapped the shot away.

It was Gell's first penalty kick as a Tar Heel, but the decision of who shoots them is one Bolowich said he has always left up to his players.

"I've always thought that you don't pick somebody and put the pressure on them if they're not ready," Bolowich said.

Tar Heel senior defender Danny Jackson liked Gell's motivation, but said he should have taken the penalty kick.

"From my standpoint, I was disappointed with myself on the penalty kick," Jackson said. "Mike Gell was very confident in going to take it, but as a senior and captain, I maybe should have pushed him aside and taken it."

Bolowich said Gell's resurgence after the penalty kick helped guide him to the game-winning goal.

Bolowich said, "He felt, perhaps, a personal responsibility to make up for it, although I would have never blamed him for it had we lost the game."

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