October 8, 2005

Box Score

Virginia Tech 1, No. 4 UNC 0

 

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman Patrick Nyarko tallied the lone goal of the match, helping the Virginia Tech men's soccer team dethrone No. 4 North Carolina, 1-0, in front of 842 fans at Fetzer Field.

With the win, the Hokies improve to 5-3-3 on the season and 1-1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels drop to 8-2-1 on the season and 1-2-1 in league competition.

"It was a great game," head coach Oliver Weiss said. "We played with them in the second half. They were a handful in the first half."

In the first half, North Carolina had nine shots to just three by the Hokies. The Tar Heels maintained offensive pressure throughout the half, totaling five corners.

Nyarko, a native of Kuntase, Ghana, netted the game-winning goal at 84:49. North Carolina failed to clear the ball out of the back. Nyarko then gathered the ball near the left side of the box and faked out a defender before blasting a shot past the Tar Heel goalkeeper, Ford Williams.

The goal by the freshman was his third on the season and his second game-winner. During Tech's current four-game winning streak, Nyarko has tallied the game-winning goal the last two matches. In the first two matches of the streak, Nyarko assisted on the game-winning goals.

Nyarko provided three of the Hokies' eight shots on the evening. Fellow freshman Joshua Boateng also totaled three shots, including one on goal.

Tech senior Chase Harrison amassed four saves on the evening, ensuring the Hokies' fourth shutout of the season. It is also the 20^th shutout of his career.

This loss for the Tar Heels was their first at home this season. North Carolina was previously 6-0 entering the game at Fetzer Field. It was also the second time that the Tar Heels have been shutout this the season.

"We are at .500 in the league," Weiss said. "It was a complete team effort, just like we wanted. The defense was tenacious."

The Hokies return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 11, as they travel to Elon for a 4 p.m., contest.