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Modified Mon, Nov 23, 2009 12:14 AM
Tar Heels advance in NCAA men's soccer
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close xCHAPEL HILL -- The North Carolina men's soccer team survived a physical second-round NCAA Tournament match against Brown that featured 29 fouls, including seven yellow cards.
"Out there, it was rough," UNC coach Elmar Bolowich said. "We just had to really concentrate on the things we were doing and wanted to do in order to control the game.
With the 2-0 victory, the Tar Heels (14-2-3) advanced to the third round and will host Indiana at 2 p.m. Sunday at Fetzer Field.
UNC started the scoring in the 20th minute when sophomore Billy Schuler headed in the eventual winner from six yards out off a free kick. Schuler's ninth goal of the season beat Brown goalkeeper Paul Grandstrand, the Ivy League's leader in goals-against average (.77).
"We've been working in practice on our free kicks and restarts," said Schuler, who was chosen to the All-ACC first team. "Dustin [McCarty] had the run before me and took his defender out. I was able to just come in behind him and get my head on the ball."
The early lead was good enough for UNC's defense, which ranks eighth in the nation in goals allowed average (.58). The Tar Heels held Brown (11-3-5) without a shot for the first 57 minutes of the match. Senior goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty faced four shots from the Bears in all and kept them scoreless with two saves. The shutout was his eighth of the season and 14th of his career. The Tar Heels have shut out 10 of 19 opponents this season.
"Our team steps pretty quick," Haggerty said. "So [Brown didn't] have the time to get the shot off. I give all the credit to my defense. They played awesome today."
The Tar Heels added a with 77 seconds left to play. Sophomore Alex Dixon took the ball down the field and beat Grandstrand to the right from eight yards out. He celebrated his sixth goal of the season with a back flip.
Sophomore Kirk Urso assisted on both goals to increase his season total to a team-leading six.
Grandstrand finished with five saves against UNC, the nation's seventh-best scoring offense.
Brown was making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and 24th overall.
Making its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance, UNC is 22-15-0 all-time in the postseason. This season, the Tar Heels are 10-1-1 at home.
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