Newspapers / The Daily Tar Heel. / Sept. 26, 2005, edition 1 / Page 13
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£hp iaily (Jar lirrl Tar Heels sweep aside Virginia rivals BY GABY REMINGTON STAFF WRITER The Smith Center looked empty. The band was playing, a few loyal fans were scat tered around, but the immense size of the almost empty dome did not faze the North Carolina volleyball team. VOLLEYBALL Virginia 0 UNC 3 Virginia Tech 0 UNC 3 The Tar Heels were in their element on Friday and Saturday nights against Virginia Tech and Virginia, making winning look easy with two sweeps. “It’s exciting because we’re pre season ranked No. 6 in the ACC,” said outside hitter Dani Nyenhuis. “It’s good to make a statement like this in our opener this weekend.” Nyenhuis finished the weekend with three aces, while McKenzie Byrd EDWARDS FROM PAGE 14 29 rushing yards in the first quar ter, but his good fortune came to an abrupt halt on the Tar Heels’ final offensive play of the opening frame. Facing a second-and-goal at the N.C. State 5-yard line, Edwards plowed up the middle, appear ing to have a path to the end zone before linebacker Oliver Hoyte met him head-on. The hit procured the football loose, and defender Leßue Rumph pounced on the fumble. Edwards had time to mull over his costly error, as he did not receive a carry in the second quarter. Walk-on Justin Warren received the brunt of the carries, including a 16-yard scamper on his first-career carry. “We gave Barrington a blow there at one point,” said UNC coach John Bunting. “We wanted to get a guy that has shown us at times Justin Warren that he can follow the scheme.” In the second half, though, Edwards returned to receive the lion’s share of the carries. And none proved more impor FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 14 60 minutes.” And after the UNC defense forced a punt on the next drive, Baker and Edwards combined again for a methodical march down the field. This time, Baker found tight end Jon Hamlett for a 10-yard touchdown reception and a lead the Tar Heels would not relinquish. “This team’s been close, our offense has been close,” Baker said. “But close doesn’t count in football. ... To come out with a victory is big for this team.” And as if the need for a victory wasn’t enough, several unfriendly exchanges before the game served to fire up the Tar Heels even more. The North Carolina linebackers knelt for a prayer at the end of the ramp to the N.C. State locker room nearly an hour before kickoff, and a tussle ensued when a group of Wolfpack players charged onto the field and right through the group of Tar Heels. “I guess we were in their way,” linebacker Tommy Richardson said afterward with a smile. “That’s all I can say.” Mason engaged in a shoving match of his own with N.C. State wide receiver Tramain Hall while the pair were practicing special teams situations with their respec tive teams. “He was catching a punt, and he tried to come by and bump me,” Mason said. “I let him know I ain’t no punk on this field, and we can go at it if you want to go at it. “I just told him to wait for the game because we’ve got something for them.” Mason would have the last laugh, as he finished with three receptions for 61 yards includ ing the game-changing catch in the Take 15/501 South towards Pittsboro Exit Main St./Southern Village FUGHTPLAN E3S 1:40-4:15-7:15-9:40 MARCH OF THE PENGUINS SI 130-3:30 JUST LIKE HEAVEN ES 1:35-4:10-7:05-9:35 LORD OF WAR B 1:45-4:20-7:20-9:45 CINDERELLA MAN tea 7.45 sSi! 8.00 |OIO IT A I|SEATINo CORPSE BRIDE (PC) DIG * (135 325 535) 730 945 FLIGHT PUN (PG-13) DIG (100 310 520) 730 940 JUST UKE HEAVEN (PG-13) DIG (105310 520)730 945 EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE (PG-13) (100335)725 935 THE BROTHERS GRIMM (PG-13) (100330)700 930 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN (R) -ID REO'D (115335)705 935 had four, Christie Clark lodged two and Camilla Ihenetu and Brianna Eskola notched three each. Beating highly ranked teams also helped boost the overall confi dence of the Tar Heels (7-5, 2-0 in the ACC). “I’m pretty confident, especially since ONLINE The Tar Heels' top-flight defense success fully subdues its weekend foes. Virginia was ranked No. 3 (in the conference) in the preseason poll,” said middle hitter Amy Beaver. “And beating them shows that we can play at the top of the ACC.” UNC was forced out of its tradi tional home because of renovations in Carmichael Auditorium, and the Smith Center where the Tar Heels will play one more game this season presented a few obstacles that had to be overcome. tant than a crucial third-and -8 with 2 minutes, 44 seconds remaining in regulation and the Tar Heels nursing a seven-point advantage. After N.C. State had contained Edwards on the drive’s first two plays, offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill called a similar run to the one that garnered 62 yards in the opening quarter. Again, ample room awaited the tailback, and his 16-yard gain allowed UNC to tick a crucial 90 seconds from the clock. “He may have had a great run at the beginning of the game, but the big run was getting us out deep coming out inside our 10,” Bunting said. “That was huge for us.” And Edwards, who finished the game with 129 yards, lessened the burden from Baker and the rest of the Tar Heel attack. “If you run the ball, they have to bring a safety in the box to help stop the run, or an extra DB,” Bell said. “(It) leaves wide receivers in manageable situations where they can really just do their thing.” Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu. third quarter. “Asa receiving group, we knew we had to make plays,” Mason said. “We’re a major part of this team, and when we make plays, we get the offense rolling.” The offense still wasn’t spec tacular. Baker finished the game with 177 yards on 13-of-23 pass ing, and as Bunting wryly pointed out of his team’s rushing average, “We’re not going to hang our hat on rushing the football for 2.9 per carry.” But the Tar Heels did just enough to win. They took advan tage of a multitude of N.C. State mistakes the multitude of flags thrown against the Wolfpack included a 15-yard late-hit penalty to set up Baker’s touchdown pass to Hamlett. “Point the finger right here at me,” Amato said. “Don’t point it at my players. Point it at me.” By the time the Tar Heels swat ted Davis’ final desperation heave in the end zone, their fingers were pointed into the air in celebration of the team’s most improbable road win in recent memory. “We came up with a big, big victory today,” Bunting said. “I’m hopeful that we can build on it and do something more next week.” Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu. The SMemtfedaw Church li/e'&OKee /oa./ I *° Adveptist. Christian Tellowsmp <acf> • Coffees • Lunches • Friday Vespers • Contemporary Christian Church Services fof* /Won hfio: Leah Miraglia miraglia@email.unc.edu or unc-ch@acflink.org Sports “It’s definitely different,” Beaver said. “The lights are the main thing especially for outside hitters when you get high balls, it can get lost in the light... and for volleyball it’s definitely tougher.” But the Smith Center also gave the players a sense of distinction. “It’s a beautiful arena, and it just had great presence,” said Ihenetu, a senior. “You can see all the people here who have played here previ ously, and it just gives you incentive to play as hard as you can.” Ihenetu contributed to the Tar Heel victories with 10 kills against Virginia Tech (5-5, 0-1) and 14 against Virginia (6-5,1-1). Christie Clark also came through with 15 kills against Virginia Tech, though she said she could still improve. “I definitely always have stuff to improve on, especially some men tal mistakes that happen here and FIELD HOCKEY FROM PAGE 14 and coming up with a convincing 4-0 victory. “It was a matter of getting back on the board,” said senior defender Naomi Weatherald. “Playing our game, doing what we know how to do best, and going out there and having some fun while we’re doing it as well.” Weatherald and her team mates certainly looked like they were having a good time, as one UNC player after another took turns shooting on the Radford (5-5) net. By halftime, the Tar Heels had already amassed a SOCCER FROM PAGE 14 it almost takes us a while to get going,” Campbell said. “It’s a bad habit that we really need to work on, because if we can get going in the first 10 minutes put teams away early the game could be totally different.” Instead, UNC (1-0-1 in the ACC) has scored four first-half goals this season —and eight in the second UNC 31, N.C State 24 UNC 7 7 14 3 31 NCSU 10 0 14 0 24 Scoring Summary First Quarter UNC —Person 11 yd. blocked punt return (Barth kidc). 11:22 NCSU - Deraney 22 yd. field goal, 7:07 NCSU Baker, T. 14 yd. run (Deraney kick), 4:46 Second Quarter UNC —Pollock 3 yd. pass from Baker, M. (Barth kick), 1322 Third Quarter NCSU Baker, T. 2 yd. run (Deraney kidc), 12:52 NCSU Williams 39 yd. pass from Davis (Deraney kick), 10:39 UNC Edwards 2 yd. run (Barth kick), 7:02 UNC Hamlett 10 yd. pass from Baker, M. (Barth kick), 2:45 Fourth Quarter UNC -Barth 24yd. field goal, 5:53 Attendance -57,100 UNC NCSU First Downs 22 16 Rushes-Yards 49-144 28-13 Passing Yards 177 257 Comp-Att-Int 13-23-1 21-35-0 Total Yards 321 270 Punts-Avg. 5-40.8 8-36.2 Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-2 Penatties-Yards 9-70 10-78 Time of Possesion 3422 25:38 Indmduai leaders Rushing: UNC-Edwards 25-129. NCSU-Baker,!. 15-58. Passing: UNC -Baker, M. 23-13-1 177. NCSU-Davis 35-21-0 257. Receiving: UNC-Pollock 5-44. NCSU-Williams 6-77. there,” Clark said. “But my team mates are great helping out.” Coach Joe Sagula is interested in focusing on the games at home in order to boost his players’ confi dence in the team. “It’s really going to be important to be successful at home in the con ference because away matches are going to be so difficult that we’ve got to be able to put out our best effort at home,” he said. And Sagula said he feels good about the team’s improvement since the beginning of the season. “Earlier this season we were a little more one-dimensional Camilla Ihenetu was carrying a lot,” Sagula said. “I think we are showing some good signs of maturity as a team.” Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu. comfortable 2-0 lead, and by game’s end four different players had scored. “We were looking for a win,” Coach Karen Shelton said. “We wanted a convincing win, and I think we got that.” Delighted as UNC was with the win, however, the team knows it has its work cut out for it with three-time defending national champion Wake Forest looming on the schedule at week’s end. Fortunately for the Tar Heels, Radford was the last team they had to face without junior for ward Laree Beans and junior back Rachel Dawson two start ers who’ve missed the team’s past half. “It’s not necessarily just putting chances away,” said Coach Elmar Bolowich. “It’s just having a little bit more of an intensity level from the kickoff. That’s what’s missing for 90 minutes.” Luckily for the Tar Heels, though, that sluggishness has been made bearable by the fact that they’ve yet to allow a first-half goal not one that’s counted, at least. Clemson did find the back of the net Friday, when a Tiger striker pounced on a ricochet in the 38th minute and knocked it past Tar Heel goalkeeper Ford Williams. There were just two problems: One, he used his hand, and two, he wasn’t Diego Maradona. Twenty four minutes later, a similar situation unfolded —but this time it was UNC that found the back of the net. And this time the goal actually counted. Junior forward Corey Ashe was fouled just outside the box while attempting one of his jitterbug quick jukes, and sophomore mid fielder Dax McCarty took the free Friendly Barber Shop Serving the Triangle Area Since 1961 “Friendly Barber, where haircuts are still just $12.” “1 get the best haircut at Friendly and I travel from Raleigh.” “This place is an institution tv- > where else do they shave your neck ( amQSr with hot lather?” / Business Journal, March 15, 2002 Tuesday-Friday: Bam-6pm mM 108 East Main Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 Saturday: Bam-4pm 919-942-6921 Lecture Discussion "Awol: Jj The unexcused absence of America's upper classes from the military and how it hurts our country" < Kathryn Roth-Douquet > I 4 pm, Monday, September 26 I Frank Porter Graham Student Union II Room 1505 , Kathy Roth-Douquet is a writer, lawyer, political activist, and Marine Corps spouse who writes on the issues' of civil-military relations. She served in the White House and Defense Department during the Clinton Administration. Her talks examines this gap and its implications for American foreign and defense policy, and the health of the American military and 'American society. Her book on the subject, co-authored with Frank Schaeffer, will be published next spring. Sponsored by The Curriculum in Peace, War, and Defense MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 Diminutive McCarty enforces the midfield BY DAVID MOSES SENIOR WRITER If somebody said Dax McCarty was a great soccer player, anyone who looked at him likely would think he’s the best player on his middle school team. Wrong. The scrawny, red-haired, 5-foot -9,142-pounder is actually a starter and major contributor for the No. 3-ranked North Carolina men’s soccer team. The sophomore, who played sparingly for the Tar Heels last season, has stepped up his play this year, controlling the midfield, tak ing free and comer kicks and act ing as the field general for UNC. “He matured tremendously,” said UNC coach Elmar Bolowich. three games while playing with the U.S. Under-21 team at the Junior World Cup in Chile. Given UNC’s upcoming match against Wake, Shelton was quick to point out that the duo are returning not a moment too soon. “We’ll be excited to have them back, and we feel like we’ve made progress while they were away,” she said. “So hopefully they’ll be happy to be home, and we’ll be happy to have them, and we’ll give Wake a good game Saturday.” Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu. kick. The ball somehow snuck through the Clemson wall, squarely struck the left post and rebounded straight back into the box. Tiger keeper Phil Marfuggi watched the ball as it rolled past him twice, and all of his defenders watched it, too, like someone had suddenly flipped a switch and set the game to half-speed. That setting didn’t account for Campbell, though, and he darted past the wall and punched it home for an easy goal that sent Clemson (4-2-1, O-2-O) back to South Carolina with its tail between its legs. “Sometimes you get lucky and the wall will make a mistake,” McCarty said. “Two players on the wall kind of turned their backs, and the ball just got right through. I thought it was going in, (but) it hit off the post and luckily for us bounced right to Scotty. “It was a great goal.” Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu. “Last year was a great learning experience for him in our league. He’s another one who will make the next step and establish himself as a wonderful ACC-level player.” McCarty was pushed around a lot last season because of his diminu tive size, but his unquestioned ball handling skills have allowed him to play at the college level. “I’m a small player so I can’t go and try to hold players off the ball,” McCarty said. “So I can’t use my physical attributes because I’m not the biggest guy. I think I just have to make my foot skills and my aware ness around me that much better.” McCarty notched a goal in the Tar Heels’ first victory of the sea son but has been kept out of the back of the net since. He came close Friday against Clemson, as he rocketed a ball off the post. But like most things he does on the field, McCarty’s shot helped the Tar Heels, as freshman midfielder Scott Campbell took the rebound off the post and put it home for UNC. “My contributions to the game have been more than getting points. Hard work. Trying to get everybody else involved. I think it would feel really good to get that second goal, get over the hump.” When looking at McCarty, one of the last words that would come to mind probably would be “enforcer.” But that is exactly what he is. “He’s an enforcer in the mid field,” Campbell said. “He’s a defi nite leader in the midfield that’s what we need. Our midfield’s young, really young ... but Dax is definitely a leader in the midfield.” McCarty takes all the corner kicks for the Tar Heels when he’s on the field, and he takes a major ity of the free kicks as well. Like Tim Merritt did for the Tar Heels last year, McCarty is also the link between the midfield and the offense, carrying the ball up the field into an offensive situation. “I’m very comfortable with the ball on my feet,” he said. “I hope the guys have a lot of faith in me when I get the ball. I just do what I do best, find other players, try to get involved as much as possible and all in all just try and get the ball forward and take some pressure off of our defense.” The cliche goes, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog,” and that couldn’t be more true for McCarty. “Hey, that kid’s got a humongous heart,” Campbell said. “It’s ridicu lous. He’ll win a ball over someone twice his size. Just pure heart. Just a great player.” Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu. 13
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