Tar Heels Run Past Alabama-Birmingham, 5-2, In Nike Carolina Classic
Sept. 19, 1999 CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Michael Bucy and Caleb Norkus each scored twice and Noz Yamauchi had three assists as the University of North Carolina defeated Alabama-Birmingham, 5-2, Sunday afternoon at Fetzer Field in the final game of the Nike Carolina Classic. With the win, Carolina improved to 5-1 this season and is off to its best start since 1995, when it began the season 6-1. Carolina took a 3-0 lead in the first 30 minutes of action and seemed to be in control of the match before allowing two Blazer goals in a two-minute span that cut the lead to 3-2. The Tar Heels picked up their intensity and scored two goals in the second half to secure the win, their fourth in a row. UNC outshot UAB, 23-8, and took 12 corner kicks to the Blazers' four. Bucy scored the first goal of the game at the 19:29 mark, heading in a Yamauchi corner kick for a 1-0 UNC lead. Freshman Ryan Kneipper gave Carolina a 2-0 lead at the 25:13 mark when he converted nifty assists from Daniel Jackson and Bucy. The first of Norkus' two goals came at 27:38 for a 3-0 lead as he took assists from Bucy and David Popp in a quick combination of passes in the box. UAB battled back as Houston Smith scored two goals in a span of 2:09 to make it 3-2, Carolina. John Ziannis fed Houston's first goal and Justin Pratt had the assist on the second goal off a throw-in. The Tar Heels scored twice after halftime to earn the win. Norkus scored at 56:21, putting in a rebound from a Yamauchi shot. Bucy scored his second goal of the match at 85:55 when he scored off a Yamauchi corner kick. In the afternoon's first game, UNC Greensboro defeated Lehigh, 4-1. Carolina will return to action Wednesday evening at UNC Greensboro.
1 2 Final UAB 2 0 2 North Carolina 3 2 5
Scoring 1. UNC - Bucy (Yamauchi), 19:29 2. UNC - Kneipper (Jackson, Bucy), 25:13 3. UNC - Norkus (Bucy, Popp), 27:38 4. UAB - Smith (Ziannis), 37:13 5. UAB - Smith (Pratt), 39:22 6. UNC - Norkus (Yamauchi), 56:21 7. UNC - Bucy (Yamauchi), 85:55
Shots: UAB 8, NC 23
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