In a match sprinkled with plenty of failed scoring chances, VCU and North Carolina
were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw. The non-conference bout, which featured teams
that have combined for 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, drew a regular season
record-breaking crowd of 1,245 at Sports Backers Stadium Saturday night.
Both teams did not lack speed and energy. They came out of the gates aggressive
and unwilling to concede possession of the ball, evidenced by the three yellow cards
assigned to VCU and two to UNC in the first half. For a scoreless affair, there was
no shortage of action and up-tempo play.
The Tar Heels were granted a gift with just three seconds remaining in the first
half. They pushed the ball into a scoring position but faced defensive traffic inside
the 18-yard box. Junior defender Peer Jaekel (Bremen, Germany) got tangled up in
the mix and was called for a tripping foul. Brian Shriver took the penalty kick for
UNC and missed the shot wide to the left of the net as the teams entered the break
in a scoreless deadlock.
Shriver redeemed himself in the 58th minute by beating goalkeeper Andrew
Dykstra (Woodbridge/Osbourn Park) on a grounder to register the first score of the
match-or so it seemed. The goal was immediately nullified as Shriver was whistled
for being offsides.
UNC’s freshman goalkeeper, Tyler Deric, gambled when he ventured well outside
of his box to challenge senior Sven Meusch (Cologne, Germany) on a breakaway
scoring attempt in the 81st minute. Meusch was tripped by a defender trailing the
play in a similar manner and position on the field similar to when Jaekel was called
for a foul. This time there would be no penalty kick, but the Rams had a series
of chances to put the ball in the net as Deric remained on the ground for several
moments. The threat was snuffed when Deric intercepted a crossing pass while still
on the ground.
The Rams had yet another legitimate opportunity to avoid overtime in the final
minute. Jaekel put the ball in play with a corner kick, which set up a blocked shot
off the foot of Meusch as the final three seconds ticked away and concluded the
second half.
Pressure had been applied consistently during regulation from both sides, but
slightly inaccurate shots added to the teams’ frustration. Shots that yielded five goals
in VCU’s last outing were now sailing high or wide. Sophomore Owusu Sekyere
(Suame-Kumasi, Ghana/Opoku Ware), who entered the game with nine points, had
two missed shots, both of which were followed with Sekyere kneeling to the pitch
and clutching his head in disappointment.
Overtime belonged to the Tar Heels’ offense and
Dykstra. Though unable to connect with the net, UNC
out-shot VCU three to one in the first overtime session,
while the Rams committed four fouls and the Tar Heels
committed two.
The second overtime period heated up further. Unable
to convert the one-on-one match-up, speedy freshman
Carlos Herdy (Rio de Janiero, Brazil) dribbled down the
right side and barely lofted the ball over the cage in the
102nd minute. UNC nearly had its efforts culminate in
a game-winning goal after Shriver set up a header from
Zach Lloyd in what was as clear a shot as there was all
night. Dykstra left his feet in an outstretched, diving save
to his right-hand side. Dykstra made three of his five total
saves in the second overtime.
Dykstra was quick to deflect praise to his teammates for
Saturday’s game, as well as the season to this point.
“I have a great back four. They all know how to play
their positions,” Dykstra said. “They all know what they’re
doing, and it has carried over from practice, and we’ve
had a great season so far.”
Each goalkeeper was magnificent throughout the night.
Dykstra recorded his second consecutive shutout and fourth
total for the season. His goals against average continues
to improve, now at 0.42, having allowed only three goals
through seven games.
With the tie, the black and gold wrap up the nonconference
portion of their schedule with a strong record
of 4-1-2. The Rams open conference play Friday night at
home against Delaware.