Aug. 31, 2008
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
Senior captain Michael Callahan scored with 4:31 remaining in the first overtime Sunday to give No. 24 North Carolina a 1-0 win over VCU on the final day of the Carolina Nike Classic at Fetzer Field. Senior goalkeeper Jacob Wescoe made a career-best five saves to pick up his second shutout of the young season.
For their play in wins over the Rams (0-2-0) and Florida International, Wescoe, Eddie Ababio, Brian Shriver and Sheanon Williams each earned a spot on the all-tournament team of the Carolina Nike Classic. With the two victories, UNC improved to 16-3-1 all-time in its annual home event.
Both the Tar Heels (2-0-0) and Wake Forest (2-0-0) went unbeaten in the event. In a game that featured a 73-minute weather delay in the second half, the No. 1-ranked Demon Deacons opened the day with a 3-0 win over the Golden Panthers (0-2-0).
After neither Carolina nor VCU managed much in the way of scoring chances in regulation, the Tar Heels came out aggressive in extra time. Midfielder Cameron Brown nearly ended things with a rocket in the 92nd minute, and he set up Callahan's game-winner just under four minutes later.
Brown played a through ball to Callahan on the right side, and he deposited it in the back of the net past VCU goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra at the 95:29 mark for the winner. The score was the eighth of Callahan's career and his third game-winner.
Carolina finished with a 10-6 edge in shots and a 2-1 advantage on corner kicks. Dykstra made four saves and allowed the one goal.
Neither team had many scoring chances in the opening half, as the Tar Heels posted a 5-2 advantage in shots. Carolina's best opportunity came in the 34th minute when a Chris Lebo shot was saved by Dykstra, and Garry Lewis followed with a rebound shot that was deflected.
In the second half, Ababio made a run in the 73rd minute and had Dykstra one-on-one, but the VCU goalkeeper made his third save of the match to keep the Tar Heels off the board until Callahan ended things in the 96th minute.
The Tar Heels are back in action next weekend at Wake Forest's Deacon Fall Classic against South Carolina and UCLA.
2008 Carolina Nike Classic All-Tournament Team
Cory Kendall, Florida International
Phillip Fisher, Florida International
Eddie Ababio, North Carolina
Brian Shriver, North Carolina
Jacob Wescoe, North Carolina
Sheanon Williams, North Carolina
Andrew Dykstra, VCU
Owusu Sekyere, VCU
Austin da Luz, Wake Forest
Akira Fitzgerald, Wake Forest
Marcus Tracy, Wake Forest
