Aug. 31, 2007

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In its first season-opening loss since 1997, No. 16 North Carolina could not overcome a second half goal from Monmouth's Damon Wilson in a 1-0 defeat in the Carolina Nike Classic at Fetzer Field.

The Tar Heels (0-1-0) outshot the Hawks (1-0-0) by a 16-4 margin, including a 9-0 mark in the first half. Carolina had two first-half scores by junior forward Brian Shriver waved off due to offside calls and just missed on a number of chances in the second period.

Just under three minutes after UNC midfielder Michael Callahan nearly gave the Tar Heels the lead with a blast off the crossbar, the Hawks broke into the scoring column on their first shot on goal of the night. Wilson buried a 12-yard strike in the left side of the net past UNC keeper Tyler Deric. Ryan Kinne assisted on the goal, which came at 55:25.

Shriver nearly found the equalizer for the Tar Heels in the 70th minute when he was one-on-one with Monmouth keeper Daniel Schenkel but missed wide right. Shenkel finished with seven saves in the shutout, while Deric made one stop in his collegiate debut.

Carolina held possession for much of the first half and held the Hawks shotless but could not manage to put a goal on the board.

Friday's defeat snapped a string of four consecutive shutouts at the Carolina Nike Classic for the Tar Heels and was just their third-ever loss in the annual event. UNC is now 14-3 all-time in the current format of its home tourney.

Second-ranked Wake Forest took the day's first game from No. 20 Old Dominion, 2-1, in double overtime.

The two-day event continues Sunday with the Demon Deacons and Monmouth squaring off at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Tar Heels and Old Dominion at 7 p.m.