Goodwin leads UNC to another shutout victory

Shutouts have been the North Carolina men’s soccer team’s story all year. They’ve been senior goalkeeper Scott Goodwin’s story this year and for his whole career.

And now, Goodwin’s shutouts are officially part of the UNC men’s soccer program’s history.

Goodwin set the UNC single-season record for shutouts on Thursday with his 13th of the year as the Tar Heels beat the Eagles 4-0 in their final regular-season game.

“When you see it on paper, that’s a great record to have,” captain Jordan Gafa said. “I don’t think it goes to his head while he’s playing. But the fact that he’s been here for four years and left a legacy of his own is great.”

North Carolina has played shutdown defense all season, and has ridden a Division I-low 0.24 goals-against average to a No. 3 national ranking. The Tar Heels have allowed only four goals all year.

And Goodwin is behind all of it — the last man between the ball and the goal.

The goals-against numbers could rise or fall depending on how the team performs in the postseason. But Goodwin can only add to his shutout record.

For Goodwin, shutting teams out has become run-of-the-mill.

“I didn’t even know that (I set the record),” Goodwin said. “It’s just another shutout.”

Goodwin already had the most career shutouts in North Carolina history. And he came close to the single-season record each of the last two years, posting 11 shutouts in 2010 and in 2011.

After Thursday’s win, the goalie who wears No. 1 is number one on another line of the school record books. It took Goodwin until his last season as a Tar Heel to earn it — and he did it on his birthday.

The Eagles had six shots at putting off the record for at least one more game. But only one was on target, and the shot wasn’t especially tough.

Goodwin said UNC’s defense made things easy for him — and that it has for his entire career — and deserves all the credit.

“The biggest thing is we’ve always bought into the same ideas together,” Goodwin said. “When I’m back there barking out orders, they’re actually enjoying that.”

On Boston College’s best chances, the Eagles couldn’t even get the ball on goal.

Diego Medina-Mendez got a clean look off a corner in the first half, but headed it well wide. Goodwin didn’t even have to move.

And in the second half, the Eagles sent two more balls wide — one from the lower right side of the UNC box and one from about 25 yards out. Goodwin had to dive for both shots, but both sailed past the net.

But even with Goodwin’s statistical accolades, coach Carlos Somoano said it’s never been about the numbers.

“I don’t know if I’m going to think about the numbers that Scott put up here or the wins,” Somoano said. “I’m going to think about Scott as a human being, and he’s a heck of a human being.

“Maybe in about 25 years I’ll vote for him for president.”

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