Sept. 1, 2002

The first big weekend of University of North Carolina athletics for the 2002-03 school year was a soggy one in Chapel Hill, but there was still plenty of excitement.

The Tar Heel men's soccer team began its defense of the national title with a 2-1 overtime win on Friday over Akron and then capped the weekend with a dramatic win on Sunday over Saint Louis.

The Tar Heel football team battled Miami (Ohio) to the final seconds at a soggy Kenan Stadium before losing 27-21 in the season-opener for both teams. For video highlights of the game, click here.

At Henry Stadium, field hockey hosted the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Saturday and Sunday and finished 1-1 on the weekend after an overtime win over Iowa on Sunday.

At Carmichael Auditorium, Joe Sagula's volleyball team opened the season with three wins, including a stunning win over No. 10 Wisconsin, to win the Carolina Nike Classic.

Meanwhile, cross country dominated the Campbell Invitational and the women's soccer team won one and tied one on the road in Nebraska.

Check out pictures from the action below:

Marcus Storey and the Tar Heels opened the season with a 2-1 win over 2001 NCAA Tournament participant Akron in overtime. Ray Fumo is a sophomore defensive midfielder. Sean McGinty and the Tar Heels opened their NCAA title defense in fine fashion.

John Bunting's UNC football team battled Miami (Ohio) and driving rain on saturday at Kenan Stadium. The Tar Heels dropped their season-opener, 27-21, but Sam Aiken caught eight passes for a career high 174 yards and one TD. Jacque Lewis scored UNC's first touchdown of the season on a three-yard run in the first quarter.

McKenzie Byrd and the UNC volleyball team started the season 3-0. Tammy Foxworth is all smiles as Carolina shocked No. 10 Wisconsin in the finals of the 2002 Carolina/Nike Classic. Seniors Eve Rackham (pictured) and Malaika Underwood also represented the Tar Heels on the All-Tournament team.

Carolina's field hockey team wrapped up a busy weekend with a 2-1 overtime win over Iowa. The Tar Heels dropped their opener on Saturday to defending national champion Michigan, but finished the weekend 1-1 after Sunday's victory. Kerry Falgowski scored the game-winner 3:22 into overtime.

Forward David Testo left Sunday's game with a lower back injury. Tim Merritt and the Tar Heels battled No. 11 Saint Louis for 90 long minutes at a soggy Fetzer Field. Ryan Kneipper headed in the game-winner on Sunday with three seconds remaining. He had two goals vs. Saint Louis and one versus Akron.

Photos courtesy of Jeffrey Camarati, UNC Athletic Communications