Sept. 9, 2005

UNC-RU Box Score
WFU-USC Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 2 North Carolina got a goal from junior forward Corey Ashe in the ninth minute of play, and its defense posted a third straight shutout, as the Tar Heels (3-0-0) scored a 1-0 win over Rutgers (1-2-0) in men's soccer action Friday at the Carolina Nike Classic at Fetzer Field.

Carolina and senior keeper Ford Williams have not allowed a goal yet this year, as the Tar Heels opened a season with back-to-back-to-back shutout victories for the first time since 1968, the first season UNC made an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Williams, who now has 18 career shutouts, only had to make one save on the night, as the Tar Heel backline of Michael Harrington, Andre Sherard, Ted Odgers and David Boole limited the Scarlet Knights to just five shots, including only two in the second half.

Ashe scored the game-winner for the second consecutive match, as he fired a strike from around 15 yards out to the right of Rutgers keeper Matt VanOekel for a one-goal Carolina advantage at 8:11. Freshman midfielder Scott Campbell picked up the assist, as he dribbled up the middle of the field and fed Ashe from just outside the 18-yard box to set up the goal.

Campell and Ashe currently share the Carolina scoring lead with four points on the young season.

The Tar Heels doubled up Rutgers with 10 shots in the match, and VanOekel made two stops in goal for the Scarlet Knights and allowed one goal. Rutgers held the edge in corners, 6-5.

In the first match of the night, No. 16 Wake Forest (2-1-0) scored three first half goals and held South Carolina (0-3-0) to just seven shots in a 3-0 victory.

The annual tournament continues Sunday with two more games as the Demon Deacons and Scarlet Knights will square off at 1 p.m. followed by North Carolina and South Carolina at 3:30 p.m.