Tar Heels shut out No. 7 USC to build win streak

While most students used Fall Break to relax, the North Carolina men's soccer team was willing to work.

The Tar Heels beat No. 7 South Carolina 2-0 Saturday, proving they were not in a break frame of mind.

The win gave UNC (5-6-2) its first two-game winning streak after defeating Elon 3-1 Wednesday. The Tar Heels also handed USC (8-3-1) its second shutout of the season.

The sophomores dominated the scoreboard Saturday as Ted Odgers passed the ball to Michael Harrington, who chipped it to Corey Ashe for a one-timer in the box. Ashe's goal gave UNC the lead halfway into the first half.

"I feel like the offense is trying to get some combinations going," said senior Marcus Storey. "We are starting to get comfortable with each other."

Even with the confidence and momentum gained by Ashe's goal, it looked as though the goal could be the only one of the game.

"The goal gave us confidence, but then again, this year we have had a little problem with scoring and then taking our foot off the pedal," said senior Ray Fumo. "We kept telling ourselves we needed to get the next one. We couldn't be satisfied with one."

Ashe's early goal forced USC to attack more, leaving the Tar Heel offense with more room to maneuver.

"The early goal by Corey was big time," said sophomore Jamie Watson. "We were more open than if it would have been 0-0 or 1-1. It showed that their defense was so stretched out that we were able to run in behind them."

The Tar Heels capitalized on this change in positioning when freshman Andre Sherard lobbed the ball over the Gamecocks' defense. Watson received the pass and gathered the ball on the left side, pounding the ball past South Carolina goalkeeper Brad Guzan from about 15 yards out.

"Andre couldn't have put a better ball," Watson said. "It was just perfect. I just had to run onto it. I didn't really want to put it on my left foot, but it kind of went there."

Both sides of the field proved strong for UNC.

"I thought the defense played outstanding," said Coach Elmar Bolowich. "They have gotten progressively better from game to game."

Fumo said the shutout was impressive against a strong team like USC.

"They are a very good team, and for us to go out and keep a zero on the board was huge," Fumo said. "(Goalkeeper Ford Williams) came up big again for us in the back."

Senior captain Tim Merritt said it was probably the first time the defense played a full 90 minutes.

"We played well, we played organized and we stayed together," he said.

As for the rest of the season, Bolowich said there is still a long way to go.

"It was just a step for our team in the right direction, never mind the (postseason)," Bolowich said. "We needed to beat a ranked team. We always felt like we could do it, but other than Virginia, we have not really done it all season long."

Bolowich said he hopes the win will boost the team and allow the Tar Heels to continue adding to their win streak.

"To come up with a win at home, I think it changed, a little bit, the momentum for our team," he said. "And I hope it did something for us."

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.