Tar Heels Hopeful of Second Semester Possibilities
Start Second Half of Season January 27-28 in Columbia, SC
SECRHL January 16th, 2007 at 10:38PM January 16th, 2007 10:53PMAs the second half of the 2006-07 SECRHL season is set to begin, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels find themselves one game above .500 at 6-5-1, placing them 4th in the conference, behind Elon, Western Carolina, and Emory, respectively. With eight games remaining for the Tar Heels, and the top eight teams qualifying for regional playoffs, UNC is in a solid position to finish the regular season as one of the top seeds entering the playoffs. When looking back at some of the first semester highlights, it is easy to see why the Heels are in such a comfortable position entering 2007.
First and foremost, the play of senior defenseman and captain Marcus Davidsson has never been better. His 7 goals and 6 assists, for a team-leading 13 points, already shatter his previous career highs. His 2 game-winning goals also match a career high, set last season. In his defensive end, Davidsson has also provided a force not previously seen by the Tar Heels.
Junior forward Kevin Loughran has also been a big reason for North Carolina's early success. Loughran has brought back the level of play reminiscent of his freshman season, when he scored 11 goals for the Tar Heels. Though missing four games this season, Loughran has already amassed 9 goals in the early campaign, 5 of which came on the powerplay. He has provided much-needed offense for a team that lost its top four scorers from a year ago.
One of the early surprises of the season has been freshman Alex Pearce, whose 12 points tie him with linemate Kevin Loughran for 2nd on the team. His work on special teams has been solid, especially on the penalty kill, where his speed has earned him a short-handed goal. Pearce has shown that he can also contribute in both scoring columns, racking up 5 goals and 7 assists.
Senior Ryan Gaus has been used at every position this season for the Tar Heels, and has helped to contribute to their success. Gaus started the season in goal, earning a 3-0-1 record, before playing the final eight games mostly as a defenseman. He has also been used extensively on the powerplay, along with Davidsson, Loughran, and Pearce. His team-leading 8 assists have shown that he can be an offensive threat as well as a strong defender.
Like counterpart Alex Pearce, rookie sophomore Kevin Coletta and freshmen brothers Matthew Williams and Jordan Williams have been welcome additions to the Tar Heels' roster. Coletta finished the semester stronger than anyone, scoring a hat-trick and adding an assist in the last game of the first semester. His 8 points are also 5th-best on the team, despite missing the first four games of the season. Matthew Williams has provided a balanced attack, registering 3 goals and 4 assists, while brother Jordan has shown that he has a scorer's touch, notching 5 goals so far this season. Both have also provided a dependable grinding line for the Tar Heels.
Graduate student Sean Johnson has been strong in the net for the Tar Heels, guiding them to a victory in his first career appearance against Duke, and wins in two of his first three starts. The second half of the season was not as kind to North Carolina, however, as Johnson was forced to face some of the top teams in DII, as well as undefeated DI team NC State, playing most of those games while missing some of UNC's top players. A forfeit victory against Longwood also undoubtedly prevented Johnson from yet another win.
The contributions of other players on the North Carolina roster may not always show up on the score sheet, but do not go unnoticed. Senior alternate captains Glenn Brandys and Brooks Henderson have provided one important intangible for the Tar Heels: leadership. Respected by their teammates, Brandys and Henderson have used their four respective years in a North Carolina uniform to their advantage. Brandys' 4 goals in only 8 games, and Henderson's strong play alongside defensive partner Marcus Davidsson, have both been immeasurable assets to the Heels this season. Sophomores Tony Drier and Curtis Labban, as well as freshman Scott Snyder, have provided a lot of depth for North Carolina, something essential for any team that desires to go far into the playoffs. Their combined 7 goals have translated into several wins for the Heels. Graduate student Jason Kim and senior rookie Jason Bischof have provided depth and stability at defense for the Tar Heels. The consummate stay-at-home defenseman, Kim has easily been one of the top defenseman for the Tar Heels, balancing with his more offensive-minded defensive partner, Ryan Gaus. Bischof has lived up to his Canadian roots, proving he can be reliable on defense and adding depth to the position. Finally, Bill Huang further exemplifies the depth that UNC possesses this season. Huang has shown that he is truly a player's player, suiting up for nearly every game this season, while only seeing limited playing time. He competes as hard as any other player on the team, and it is only a matter of time before he registers his first point.
North Carolina opens the second half of the season January 27-28 in Columbia, SC, facing off against Division II opponents Western Carolina and Georgia Tech, Division I team Virginia Tech, and Division II affiliate member College of Charleston. The Heels will conclude their regular season February 10-11 at their home rink, Carolina Sportsplex, in Morrisville, NC. Check back soon for more updates.