North Carolina Tar Heels
ACC
Even before the season started North Carolina had expectations of being a good team and now that it has ended they disappointed no one with a 15-3-2 record. The defending champs had a successful season with only three losses, one being to number one Maryland who the Tar Heels again lost to in the ACC championship game. The Tar Heels’ defense recorded an impressive 15 shutouts to help them remain competitive in the tough ACC.
2012 Record: 15-3-2, 6-1-1
Coach: Carlos Somoano
Good Results: 8/31 West Virginia (1-0), 9/28 at Duke (2-1), 11/1 Boston College (4-0)
Bad Results: 9/11 at James Madison (0-1), 9/14 Wake Forest (0-0), 10/19 at Maryland (0-1)
Why They Can Surprise:
North Carolina isn’t a huge numbers team, not by any means. The leading scorers for the Tar Heels, Andy Craven and Martin Murphy, only have six goals and five goals, respectively, for the season bringing the total for the offense up to only 32. The defense lacks in numbers as well with only 40 saves for keeper Scott Goodwin but he also only allowed six goals for North Carolina’s opponents. The numbers may not be as impressive as their ACC counterpart Maryland, but it tells their rivals a huge story, that they are a strategic team. They know when to shoot and they can keep the ball out of the box. The defending champs will surprise everyone with a high scoring game in the postseason or even another NCAA tournament crown.
Why They Can Disappoint:
North Carolina has a lot to lose in the NCAA Tournament. They will disappoint if they fall short after winning it all last season. The Tar Heels are not a high scoring team but have a defense that will allow them to win low scoring games. The offense will have to, however, step it up a notch going up against high scoring teams like Maryland and Cornell, among others, that they could run into on their road to another title.
Key Strikers:
Andy Craven, Junior, 6 goals, 5 assists
Rob Lovejoy, Junior, 5 goals, 1 assist
Key Midfielders:
Martin Murphy, Senior, 5 goals, 2 assists
Danny Garcia, Freshman, 4 goals, 6 assists
Cameron Brown, Senior, 2 goals, 3 assists
Jordan Gafa, Senior, 2 goals, 4 assists
Mikey Lopez, Sophomore, 2 goals, 1 assist
Key Defenders:
Jonathan Campbell, Freshman, 1 goal, 1 assist
Boyd Okwuonu, Sophomore, 0 goals, 0 assists
Jordan McCrary, Sophomore, 0 goals, 1 assist
Key Goalkeepers:
Scott Goodwin, Senior, 0.29 goals against average, .870 save percentage, 15 shutouts
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 1.76 (36th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.23 (1, 1)
Shutout Percentage: 0.76 (2, 1)
Save Percentage: 0.907 (1, 1)
2013 MLS Draft Prospects:
#30 Mikey Lopez
#54 Jordan McCrary
#58 Boyd Okwuonu
See All Prospects
Recent Postseason Appearances:
North Carolina 2011 Second Round Defeated Coastal Carolina
North Carolina 2011 Third Round Defeated Indiana
North Carolina 2011 Quarterfinals Defeated Saint Mary's
North Carolina 2011 National Semifinals Defeated UCLA
North Carolina 2011 National Finals Defeated Charlotte
North Carolina 2010 Second Round Defeated Georgetown
North Carolina 2010 Third Round Defeated Michigan State
North Carolina 2010 Quarterfinals Defeated SMU
North Carolina 2010 National Semifinals Lost to Louisville
North Carolina 2009 Second Round Defeated Brown
North Carolina 2009 Third Round Defeated Indiana
North Carolina 2009 Quarterfinals Defeated Drake
North Carolina 2009 National Semifinals Lost to Akron
North Carolina 2008 Second Round Defeated Jacksonville
North Carolina 2008 Third Round Defeated Illinois-Chicago
North Carolina 2008 Quarterfinals Defeated Northwestern
North Carolina 2008 National Semifinals Defeated Wake Forest
North Carolina 2008 National Finals Lost to Maryland
North Carolina 2006 Second Round Lost to Old Dominion
North Carolina 2005 Second Round Defeated Providence
North Carolina 2005 Third Round Defeated Virginia
North Carolina 2005 Quarterfinals Lost to SMU
North Carolina 2004 First Round Lost to George Washington
North Carolina 2003 Second Round Lost to Coastal Carolina
*all team stats through 11/4
See All Men’s Soccer Postseason Capsules
