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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
Castro's Tally Leads UNC Past Duke
September 17, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 17, 2010
DURHAM, N.C. - Freshman Bruno Castro provided the difference maker Friday night as the No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels marched into Koskinen Stadium and captured a 1-0 win over No. 11 Duke (2-1-2, 0-1-1 ACC). Castro was fed a perfect ball by Josh Rice and darted in the box beating a charging James Belshaw top shelf for the game winner. Carolina improves to 3-1 overall and a perfect 2-0 in ACC play.
The teams battled to a scoreless draw in the opening 45 minutes as neither team was able to connect on many runs. The Tar Heels racked up the shots, posting a 13-3 advantage and 5-1 on goal but several were from distance and did not seem to challenge Belshaw.
The second half was a different story as Duke's Ryan Finley, the reigning ACC Player of the Week, pushed the Carolina defense. Finley was held to one shot in the first half but was able to tally three shots in the second half challenging the Tar Heel backline and goalkeeper Scott Goodwin.
After a pair of shots by Finley and three consecutive corners, Carolina turned up the pressure and as a result maintained possession during the final half hour. Jordan Gafa and Josh Rice came on to spell a tired Enzo Martinez and Alex Dixon and the pair helped to push the Carolina attack forward as Elmar Bolowich used his bench effectively in the second half.
With just over 20 minutes to go in regulation Bruno Castro was called upon to replace Eddie Ababio up top and lived up to the task. Castro helped draw a corner in the 74th minute which set up a shot attempt by Martinez before making his game-winning run less than nine minutes of coming onto the pitch.
In the 79th minute, Carolina's meticulous passing helped lead a break that would be the difference in the contest. Josh Rice found the ball at his feet and turned and dropped it off to a streaking Castro who dribbled around a defender and poked the ball over Belshaw for his first goal of the season.
Enzo Martinez nearly made it 2-0 in favor of the Tar Heels six minutes later but his strike from inside the box was parried away by Belshaw providing a Carolina corner.
Carolina would grind out the final minutes to claim the 1-0 win over rival Duke. The win gave Carolina its third-straight Triangle Derby crown as the Tar Heels have beaten both NC State and Duke three consecutive years. The win also improves Carolina to 2-0 in the ACC for just the third time in the last 20 years.
The Tar Heels will entertain Wofford on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Field before hosting No. 7 Maryland on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. also at Fetzer Field.
