Scouting the Tar Heels
Indiana’s opponent in the national quarterfinals is one with which the Hoosiers are familiar. The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Hoosiers in 2009 and 2011 on their way to berths in the College Cup. Last season, the Heels won the national championship in Head Coach Carlos Somoano’s first season. Friday, the Hoosiers and Tar Heels meet again in Chapel Hill, N.C., this time with a berth in the College Cup at stake. UNC seeks their fifth consecutive College Cup appearance.
Should the Hoosiers win, it would be their first berth in the “Final Four” of college soccer since 2004. It is only the second time the Hoosiers reached quarterfinal play since their last championship eight years ago. The 2008 team lost 3-2 in overtime to St. John’s.
For the Hoosiers to reach their 18th College Cup, they’ll have to overcome a UNC squad that …
- owns a 40-match unbeaten streak at home.* They’re only the second team to reach that plateau.
- leads the nation with 17 shutouts. Senior goalkeeper Scott Goodwin has a 0.26 goals against average this season, the fourth-lowest in NCAA history.
- leads the NCAA in shutout percentage.
- lost only twice (to Maryland each time) in their last 17 matches.
- tied for 74th in the nation in scoring offense.
For the Hoosiers…
- Senior forward Tim Wylie posted this tweet after the Hoosiers’ 2-1 overtime victory at Notre Dame Sunday. It’s worth a click.
- Nikita Kotlov has scored four goals for Indiana this tournament. He scored the Hoosiers’ only goal in their only Big Ten Tournament match against Michigan State. So give him five in the postseason.
Stats source here.
* Akron holds the NCAA record with a 48-match home unbeaten streak.
I cover IU baseball and men's soccer. Send me feedback, via tweet (twitter.com/MicahMcVicker), or email (mmmcvick@indiana.edu). I'll do everything I can to answer your inquiry.
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