Nov. 28, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Making its first appearance in the NCAA Championship third round since 2005, No. 13 national seed North Carolina will host UIC at 1 p.m. Sunday at Fetzer Field. The Tar Heels (12-7-1) advanced Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Jacksonville, while the Flames (12-3-6) moved past No. 4 seed Michigan State 3-2 on penalty kicks. Sunday's winner will advance to face Northwestern or No. 5 seed Akron in the quarterfinals next weekend.

Sunday's match-up will feature a pair of top-25 teams, as Carolina is ranked No. 23 by the NSCAA, and UIC is rated No. 14 by Soccer America and No. 15 by the NSCAA. Tickets are available for purchase online at TarHeelBlue.com.

UNC rode a 56th minute goal from freshman forward Billy Schuler and a shutout from junior goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty to its second-round win Tuesday. Schuler, who is the first UNC rookie to score in the NCAA Tournament since 1990, has four goals and 12 points to rank third on the squad. Paced by senior forward Brian Shriver's 13 goals, the Tar Heels have scored 42 times this season for their most goals since 2002.

With Haggerty in goal over the last five halves of soccer, Carolina has allowed just one goal over this stretch.

UIC, which has advanced on PKs twice in the NCAA tourney, has not allowed a goal in the postseason but also has not scored in the postseason. Keeper Jovan Bubonja owns a 0.63 goals against average and 10 shutouts. The Flames have scored 34 goals with Baggio Husidic leading the way with eight scores and 22 points.

Carolina and UIC have met once with Elmar Bolowich's Tar Heels posting a 4-1 win at the UAB Nike Classic to open the 2000 season. The Tar Heels went on to win the ACC title that season and reached the NCAA quarterfinals. The Tar Heels and Flames did not have any common opponents this season.

A win over UIC Sunday will give Carolina its fifth trip to the quarterfinal round and first since 2005. The Tar Heels have made three of their previous four trips to the final eight under Bolowich - all since 2000. The Tar Heels have reached the quarters in 2000, 2001 and 2005 and claimed the 2001 national title.

Carolina is making its 16th NCAA championship appearance and it owns an 18-14-0 record in the postseason. The Tar Heels are making their 13th postseason trip - and ninth in 10 years - under head coach Elmar Bolowich, who is 14-11-0 in NCAA Tournament play. UNC is 12-7-0 in all-time NCAA Tournament action at Fetzer Field.