Oct. 6, 2008
CHAPEL HILL - Linebacker Bruce Carter set an ACC single-game record by blocking three
punts in the football win over Connecticut and forward Casey Nogueira had
five goals and an assist in women's soccer wins over Duke and Wake Forest to
share Progress Energy Tar Heel of the Week honors for September 29-October
5, 2008.
Carter, a sophomore from Havelock, N.C., blocked three punts in the second
quarter, sparking the Tar Heels to a 38-12 win. His third block was
recovered in the end zone for a touchdown by Matt Merletti. Carter also
recorded seven tackles, including two tackles for losses and broke up a
pass. Carter also tied a school record for blocked punts in a season with
four to match Bracey Walker's 1993 total. Carter may have done something no
other player in NCAA history has accomplished - blocking four consecutive
punts, including the last one at Miami and UConn's first three. The NCAA
does not keep records on consecutive blocked kicks.
Nogueira, a junior from Raleigh, had 11 points in two road games against
conference opponents both ranked in the Top 16 in the nation as the Tar
Heels swept No. 9 Duke 3-0 and No. 16 Wake Forest 4-2. Nogueira scored
twice in UNC's win over the Blue Devils. In seven home games prior to
meeting the Tar Heels Thursday, the Blue Devils had not allowed a goal this
season. Against Wake Forest, which had allowed only two goals in its first
seven home games, Nogueira figured in all four goals, scoring three times,
including the game-winner and assisting on Carolina's fourth goal. She
leads UNC with 29 points and with 12 goals and is second on the team with
five assists. The hat trick versus Wake was the first for Nogueira since
September 20, 2007 when she had three against Ohio State.
Other nominees:
CHARLOTTE VERSTRATEN
Forward, Field Hockey
Freshman, Berg En Dal, The Netherlands
Freshman Charlotte Verstraten opened Saturday's top-five matchup
against Wake Forest with the first goal of her career and later assisted
on the gamewinner in North Carolina's 4-3 win over the third-ranked
Demon Deacons.
Twenty minutes into the action, she scored to put UNC up 1-0. After a
2-2 tie at halftime, Verstraten set up Taryn Gjurich's goal at the 47:10
mark to that gave No. 4 UNC an advantage it would never relinquish.
CATHERINE O'DONNELL
Tar Heel Invitational, Women's Golf
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
In just her second tournament as a Tar Heel, freshman Catherine O'Donnell
tied for medalist honors at the Tar Heel Invitational last weekend.
O'Donnell fired a two-under-par 70 in Sunday's final round after carding
74-72 in the first two rounds. Her even par 216 total was matched by two
Wake Forest players, Jean Chua and Natalie Sheary, as the three shared first
place.
Carolina was the runner-up in the team race. The Tar Heels fired a
four-over-par 292 in the final round for an 888 total. They posted a 299 and
297 in the first two rounds. In addition to O'Donnell's fine play, senior
Lauren Hunt tied for 10th place with a 222 total. Freshman Allie White tied
for 24th place at 226 while junior Kate Thomas tied for 28th at 227 and
senior Sydney Crane tied for 40th at 230. Sophomores Jordan Allyne and
Margaret Pentrack competed as individuals and tied for 48th and 79th
respectively.
The Tar Heels return to action this weekend when they travel to Knoxville,
Tenn., to play in the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship Oct. 10-12.
