Midfielder Enzo Martinez came up with a goal against College of Charleston in North Carolina’s 4-2 win Friday, but he could have just as easily delivered the scouting report.
Martinez, who went to high school in Rock Hill, S.C., said he grew up playing club soccer with seven of Charleston’s players.
“It was great for me to see them, and to be kicked by and kick them,” he said.
Although Charleston managed to score two goals against the Tar Heels — a feat equaled only by Duke in a 2-2 draw — UNC’s offensive firepower proved plentiful enough to compensate for a lackluster defensive performance and allowed it to extend its unbeaten streak to nine games.
The Cougars were the first team to score multiple goals in the same half against UNC, and they did so with bewildering efficiency. Even though the Tar Heels generally kept the action on Charleston’s side of the pitch, the Cougars managed to score two first-half goals with only four shots, compared to the 10 taken by UNC.
On just their second attempt of the game, Charleston forward Eric Fornell found the net on the counterattack for the match’s first goal during the 17th minute.
“I should have won the ball, but I didn’t go in hard enough,” Martinez said. “Robbie Benson, who I played with in high school, won the ball and made a great pass and (Fornell) had a good finish.”
UNC responded just minutes later with a finish of their own, converting a Ben Speas corner into a rare goal off the head of defender Matt Hedges.
Another strike shortly after gave the Heels their first lead of the game. Martin Murphy scored his first goal of the season off the bench with a blistering low ball into the lower-left corner from 22 yards out.
