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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NC State
Ababio Leads No. 4 Tar Heels Past The Wolfpack
September 10, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 10, 2010
RALEIGH, N.C. - Senior Eddie Ababio looked very comfortable in the attacking third for the No. 4 North Carolina men's soccer team Friday night as the senior tallied the lone Tar Heel goal in UNC's 1-0 ACC-opening win over NC State. The Tar Heels improve to 2-1 on the year and 1-0 in ACC play.
The first 15 minutes were a feeling out period between Carolina and NC State as each team registered a pair of shots but never threatened the net. The Tar Heel midfielders would go on to control possession the rest of the half.
The possession would not result in many shots down the stretch until speedster Alex Dixon entered the lineup in the 22nd minute. Dixon would not truly affect the game until the 32nd minute of the first half.
The Humble, Texas, native found open space down the left side of the field and weaved his way into the box where he fired a shot through traffic that was deflected by the Wolfpack goalkeeper.
Midfielder Michael Farfan gathered the rebound and centered the ball back into the box which found the foot of Eddie Ababio who deposited it into the back of the net giving Carolina a 1-0 lead. The goal was Ababio's first of the year in his first game as a forward for the Tar Heels in 2010.
The score would remain in Carolina's favor heading into the half as the Tar Heels registered six shots in the opening 45 minutes.
Carolina tried to maintain possession in the second half but the Wolfpack improved their play in the midfield pressuring the Tar Heels into giveaways in the attacking half. Each team registered a shot from distance but neither challenged the keeper until the 65th minute.
NC State drew a free kick in the Tar Heels' half, which miraculously made it through the box without being touched narrowly missing the edge of the post in the process.
The Tar Heels made a counter attack and nearly made it 2-0 as Farfan fired from 30 yards out dipping the ball near the lower right corner of the net which was saved with less than 20 minutes left.
Carolina maintained possession for the next 10 minutes before NC State made a charge. The Wolfpack garnered a pair of corner kicks and put a pair of shots on net in the final 15 minutes challenging keeper Scott Goodwin
Sonny Mukungu had the last gasp for NC State as his shot was stopped by Goodwin with just 32 seconds remaining in the game. Goodwin cleared the ball and the Carolina defense held on for the win.
Goodwin finished the night with two saves as he claimed his first clean sheet of the season.
Senior Michael Farfan led the Tar Heels with four shots, while Alex Dixon tallied three of his own. Carolina out-shot NC State by a narrow 11-10 margin in the win.
Next up for the Tar Heels will be a trip to Duke on Friday, Sept. 17 for a 6:30 p.m. clash with the No. 8 Blue Devils. The game will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel.
