Oct. 8, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 16 North Carolina and No. 24 Duke will meet in a key Atlantic Coast Conference men's soccer battle Friday in Durham at Koskinen Stadium. The Tar Heels (8-2-1, 1-2-0 ACC) and Blue Devils (6-3-1, 2-1-1 ACC) will also be playing for a point towards the Carlyle Cup, the all-sports competition between the two rivals.

The Tar Heels hold a 2-0.5 lead in the annual event following wins in field hockey and women's soccer earlier this fall.

A webcast of the game will be available live and on-demand via ACC Select.

Carolina, which is coming off a 1-0 loss to Virginia Oct. 3, will be without leading scorer Eddie Ababio Friday after he received a pair of yellow cards against the Cavaliers but senior forward Brian Shriver, who has 15 points on seven goals and an assist, will pilot the offensive attack.

The Tar Heels were shut out for the first time all season versus UVa, but they entered the week ranked second nationally with 27 goals on the season. Eleven different Carolina players have scored in 2008, including four freshmen.

Duke is paced by senior forward Mike Grella, who ranks among the ACC and national leaders with 21 points on the year. He has tallied nine of Duke's 19 goals this season. Last time out, the Blue Devils scored a 1-0 win at Boston College Oct. 3.

The Tar Heels hold a 37-33-8 lead in the all-time series and claimed a pair of 1-0 victories last year. Ryan Adeleye scored the double overtime game-winner in Chapel Hill during the regular season, and Michael Callahan followed with the winning score in the ACC tourney.

UNC has dropped three straight in Durham with its last win coming in 2000.

Following Friday's match, the Tar Heels return to action Tuesday, Oct. 14 at William & Mary.