Men's soccer shows control in 2-1 victory over Asheville

The last time the North Carolina men's soccer team had eight wins was 2006.

After a 7-8-5 season last year, the No. 12 Tar Heels surpassed its entire 2007 win total with a 2-1 victory against UNC-Asheville, only its 10th game of the season.

You know" I'm glad we're winning games I'll say that much" captain Mike Callahan said.

It's nice that … we're not just actually trying to keep our season alive.""

After going ahead 1-0 in the game's first four minutes" UNC (8-1-1) let Asheville claim a goal early in the second half to tie the score.

But only 12 minutes later" first-year Alex Dixon headed in a cross from Eddie Ababio to notch the game-winner.

""It was just a relief to get the go-ahead goal" Dixon said. We were tied 1-1" so we just had to get the game-winner before overtime.""

Last year the Tar Heels ended five games in draws and went into extra periods in nine games.

Getting a result is good" Callahan said" but it's not enough.

""We have a goal of winning championships this year" and if we want to do that" we really have to take our game to the next level.""

Callahan cited focus on the field as a key issue to tackle before the Tar Heels restart ACC play this weekend.

A lack of focus was evident Tuesday against Asheville (2-4-2)"" when two UNC players were booked for talking back to the referee.

Things such as ""silly cards"" are focuses for coach Elmar Bolowich and his staff as well"" Dixon said.

 ""They're trying to get us to stop that because they accumulate"" then you have to sit out a game. So they're trying to get us focused and keep our minds straight.""

But for the most part" the Tar Heels kept their minds on the game Tuesday and sophomore midfielder Cameron Brown notched his first goal of the season from 12 yards out only four minutes in.

UNC was in control for the rest of the half and seemed to have the upper hand after Asheville's J.W. Gallagher was sent off after two yellow cards.

But the Tar Heels came out of the half sluggish and 10 minutes into the second period Asheville striker Scott Szymanski finished to the far post after a long breakaway — the first goal UNC-Asheville ever has scored against North Carolina.

Even then Callahan said the offense had confidence it could retake control — after all" Asheville has never beaten UNC in nine tries.

""Honestly" (the goal) really didn't surprise me that much the way we were playing he said. But we're a very attacking-oriented team and so 30 minutes left in the game" I wasn't too worried.""

Dixon's goal later sealed the win" and the first-year's celebratory flips were the last postgoal antics the game would see.

The Tar Heels take on ACC opponent Virginia at Fetzer Field on Friday one of their last home games for a stretch — though you could barely call Tuesday's 500-strong crowd much of it from Asheville" a home-field advantage.

""You know" being Carolina it's a lot of teams' game of the season so they're going to come out gunning Callahan said. And you know" tonight they gave us a good game.""



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.