DAVID MOSES

Sports

Diminutive McCarty enforces the midfield

By DAVID MOSES | September 26

If somebody said Dax McCarty was a great soccer player, anyone who looked at him likely would think he's the best player on his middle school team. Wrong. The scrawny, red-haired, 5-foot-9, 142-pounder is actually a starter and major contributor for the No. 3-ranked North Carolina men's soccer team. The sophomore, who played sparingly for the Tar Heels last season, has stepped up his play this year, controlling the midfield, taking free and corner kicks and acting as the field general for UNC.

Sports

Freshman scores first goal, shows great promise

By DAVID MOSES | September 19

Sunday was a day of firsts for the North Carolina men's soccer team. UNC allowed its first goal at home this season, the Tar Heels committed more fouls than their opponent for the first time this year and freshman Brian Shriver notched his first career points on a first half goal in a win against Old Dominion. Shriver, a highly touted recruit from Florida, has seen time in all of the Tar Heels games this season, providing them a dangerous offensive weapon off the bench.

Sports

Badgers' success hinges on Calhoun

By DAVID MOSES | September 16

North Carolina defensive coordinator Marvin Sanders will have to draw up a little bit of a different game plan after spending nearly all of last weekend's game in Atlanta defending the pass. The Tar Heel defense will have to change gears today, as the run-focused Wisconsin Badgers look to tire out the UNC defense with a consistent ground game. The Badgers will look to continue feeding junior running back Brian Calhoun, just as they have done so far this season.

Sports

Built Ford tough: UNC goalie nabs 4th shutout

By DAVID MOSES | September 12

Six hours. Three hundred and sixty minutes. It's hard to do anything for that long, let alone hold four opponents scoreless. Yet, that's exactly what North Carolina senior goalkeeper Ford Williams has done to start the season, posting four consecutive shutouts for the No. 2 Tar Heels. "Ford is outstanding," UNC coach Elmar Bolowich said. "He's our personality in the goal. The guys trust him and he has a necessary confidence that he can make an impact in this game."

Sports

Merritt leaves Heels plugging holes in defense

By DAVID MOSES | August 31

When the North Carolina men’s soccer team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by George Washington last season, the entire squad was visibly upset. But perhaps nobody took the loss as hard as senior captain Tim Merritt. Seemingly always the one doing the screaming and the yelling, Merritt brought an intensity and leadership to the field for North Carolina that seems to be difficult to replace. “Definitely, I think Tim Merritt was a great player and a great leader,” junior Corey Ashe said.

Sports

3rd starter critical to success

By DAVID MOSES | March 28

After the 2001 World Series, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling became household names to every baseball fan across the country. But not many people know who Brian Anderson — game three starter of that dramatic series — is. Comparing that championship Diamondback squad with the current North Carolina baseball team might not be that big of a stretch. While the Diamondbacks showed that it is possible to win with two marquee starters and a bunch of second-tier pitchers, this Tar Heel team also doesn’t think it is just the two at the top.

Sports

Colonials end UNC's season

By DAVID MOSES | November 22

With just under three minutes to go in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina men's soccer team senior Tim Merritt took a shot from the top of the penalty box. George Washington goalkeeper Derek Biss stopped it, and Merritt's head collapsed into his hands, knowing his shot was probably the last chance the Tar Heels would have as they fell 1-0 to the Colonials on Friday night at Fetzer Field. George Washington struck early, as Frank Ambrosio put a header past UNC goalie Ford Williams in the second minute.

Sports

Tar Heel defense fails in 2nd half

By DAVID MOSES | November 16

The North Carolina men's soccer team went into halftime of its ACC Tournament semifinal against Maryland on Saturday with a scoreless tie and feeling pretty good about its chances to make it to the finals. After taking a 2-1 lead in the second half, things looked even more promising for the Tar Heels. That's when things fell apart for UNC, as Maryland netted three unanswered goals in a span of 11 minutes.

Sports

UNC moves closer to tournament bid

By DAVID MOSES | November 11

CARY - When the season began, it seemed a formality that the North Carolina men's soccer team would be playing deep into the postseason. But after the squad started the season 2-5-2, it wasn't clear whether UNC would even qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Now, after losing their fifth game - a heartbreaking loss to rival Duke - the Tar Heels have won eight of their last 10 games. Some of the early struggles for UNC can be blamed on what coach Elmar Bolowich called a "suicide schedule."