Aug. 23, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
Senior midfielder Stephen McCarthy's 14th-minute header was all the offense No. 2 North Carolina would need in a 1-0 preseason exhibition victory over VCU Sunday at Fetzer Field. Freshman goalkeeper Scott Goodwin went the distance in net and made two saves, as the Tar Heels claimed their second exhibition win of the weekend.
Kirk Urso's 35-yard free kick found McCarthy in the box for the lone score of the night at 13:11. McCarthy, a senior transfer from Santa Clara, sent a header into the right side of the net past VCU starting keeper Gabriel Rodriguez for his first score in Carolina Blue.
The Tar Heels nearly found a second goal late in the opening half but VCU reserve goalkeeper Jackson Van Arsdale, who posted 10 stops in 35 minutes of action, made a pair of kick saves to keep the UNC lead at a single goal heading into intermission.
After posting a 9-3 edge in shots in the first period, the Tar Heels peppered the VCU goal in the second period but could not come up with a second goal. Freshman Enzo Martinez, who tallied the game-winner Friday versus Georgetown, put five shots on frame to pace the Carolina attack.
The Tar Heels finished with a 22-4 edge in shots and took 11 corners, while holding the Rams without a corner kick.
Goodwin was tested twice in the second half and turned away an Owusu Seykere shot late in the match and corralled a long VCU free kick into the box in the final minute to close out the win.
Carolina concludes its preseason schedule Thursday against Old Dominion at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field.
North Carolina 1, VCU 0
VCU 0 - 0 - 0
UNC 1 - 0 - 1
Scoring Summary
1. 13:11 UNC Stephen McCarthy (Kirk Urso)
Shots: North Carolina 22, VCU 4
Saves: VCU 11 (Jackson Van Arsdale 10, Andrew Wells 1),
North Carolina 2 (
Scott Goodwin 2)
