Dixon tallies hat trick in win

In a matchup against the Stetson Hatters, sophomore midfielder Kirk Urso identified only one hat-trick hero: Alex Dixon.

“He took his chances well, and he put them away,” Urso said.

The sophomore forward recorded three goals in the 7-0 win for the North Carolina men’s soccer team, the first player to achieve the feat since midfielder Scott Campbell recorded a hat trick on Nov. 5, 2005, in the team’s regular season finale at Fetzer Field.

Coincidentally, the hat trick bolstered the Tar Heels to an 11-2-2 record in their own final home game of the season.

On a night that honored five seniors in pregame ceremonies, the game also showcased five scorers en route to UNC’s most prolific win of the season. But for three consecutive goals, the game seemed only to feature the sophomore from Humble, Texas.

“We always felt like Alex could be a guy who can score more than one goal in a game,” coach Elmar Bolowich said. “We knew he can be a guy that we go to when we need that, and tonight, he showed it.”

Prior to Wednesday’s matchup, Dixon had recorded two goals and one assist on the season. Last season, he provided a spark off the bench with five goals as a freshman.

But definitely no hat tricks.

“It was good to finally get a goal, but getting three is great,” Dixon said. “I’ve been in a little slump, so to get out of that is really good. I just hope I can keep it going.”

Urso provided assists on Dixon’s first two goals of the game, the first of which came with five minutes remaining in the half.

Urso received the ball from Dustin McCarty in midfield. He passed the ball wide to Dixon, who ran through and hit the ball across from the left side of the net. The ball glanced off the fingertips of outstretched goalie Logan Potter and into the goal.

With less than a minute remaining in the half, a throw-in by Urso found Dixon in an opportune spot near the goal. Dixon deftly delivered the close-range header into the net.

“We’ve been working on that corner in practice,” Dixon said. “Kirk put it in a good spot, and I just got a flick on it.”

But if Dixon was quick to praise the two assists from Urso, his teammate was even quicker to return them.

“If I happen to play the ball, and he tucks it away, that’s good for the whole team,” Urso said. “He was really sharp tonight, and every chance he got, he took well.”

The two goals lifted the Tar Heels to a 3-0 lead going into the half, a break that did not seem to quell Dixon’s momentum. Coming into the second half, Dixon’s hat trick was signed, sealed and all but delivered.

Less than two minutes into the second half, he completed the feat. When a Stetson defender misplayed a clear, Dixon secured the ball and delivered an unassisted goal into the lower left of the goal.

“It was very memorable,” Dixon said. “I don’t even know. Maybe I’ll put it on a calendar or something.”



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.