Martin Murphy scored two wonder goals in such quick succession that it was as if his highlight reel was playing out in real time.
In the 14th and 15th minutes of North Carolina’s 2-0 victory against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Murphy connected on two strikes separated by just one minute, 52 seconds. No. 1 UNC improved to 4-0-0 (1-0-0).
Creative passing by the Tar Heels impressed the home crowd and yielded results early in the contest. Andy Craven tapped a pass back to Jordan McCrary, who lofted a ball over the defense that landed at Murphy’s feet.
Murphy, who found himself onside with goalkeeper Kyle Renfro off his line, chipped a shot that just grazed the leaping keeper’s fingertips before it dropped into the net. Both Craven and McCrary were credited with an assist.
Less than two minutes later, Virginia Tech fouled UNC midfielder Raby George about 30 yards from its own net. Murphy then belted a shot into the upper-left corner of the net. Renfro, positioned closer to the right post, had no chance. It was 2-0, UNC, after just 15 minutes.
“I think a lot of the things we’ve been practicing are starting to come together,” Murphy said. “And when that all comes together we make more chances, and with more chances, come more goals. I’ve just been lucky enough to be able to finish some of them.”
But afterward, the Tar Heels found few chances as good as those two. In the second half, Glen Long came off the bench and forced Renfro to make a save, curling a shot violently toward the left post.
Craven, one of UNC’s main attacking threats, found himself on the break a couple of times but couldn’t capitalize again.
Midfielder Danny Garcia had a relatively quiet game, but said that Saturday’s performance was more composed than last week’s 2-1 win against Boston University.
