One UNC player featured the 2013 Southeast Division Champion Stampede squad, midfielder Verneri Valimaa. Valimaa made an immediate impact after joining the Stampede midway through the season. On his debut, Valimaa found the back of the net against Orlando City in a 5-1 thrashing of the defending Southern Conference Champions (can be seen here starting at 2:30:
http://vimeo.com/69415360). Valimaa finished the season with 10 shots and a goal in 6 appearances. What the stat line does not show was Valimaa’s ability to set up scoring opportunities from the midfield (can be seen here:
http://vimeo.com/69884322).
Last season, Valimaa appeared in 20 games in the midfield and started 15 in his first season at the University of North Carolina. Valimaa recorded his first point for UNC off an assist on a goal against Boston University on September 2, 2012. On the year, Valimaa Valimaaatallied 16 shots, five of which were on target. Valimaa was also named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll at the end of last season. In the 2013 campaign, Valimaa has already made significant contributions for the No. 6 ranked Tar Heels (4-2-5, 1-1-5 ACC) playing in 9 matches and recording 4 starts this season. Valimaa recorded his first goal in a 2-1 overtime defeat to No. 17 Clemson last Tuesday night at Fetzer Field. The shot opportunities may have been few-and-far between for the Tar Heels, but in the 68th minute the equalizer came from midfielder Verneri Valimaa. The build-up came from a series of short, quick passes by Omar Holness and Josh Rice that led to Valimaa squeezing off a shot that found the lower-left corner of the net at 67:37. North Carolina will host Syracuse Friday at 6:30 p.m., on the Regional Sports Network and ESPN3.
http://ocalastampede.com/where-are-they-now-university-of-north-carolina/
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