Injury toll mounts for Heels

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Oct 20, 2010

[NORTH CAROLINA-SOUTH CAROLINA MEN] Already missing five players sidelined with injuries, No. 2 North Carolina had two more players -- Preseason All-American Michael Farfan and veteran Eddie Ababio -- go off with injuries suffered in the Tar Heels' 1-0 win over No. 25 South Carolina, a nasty affair that saw nine yellow cards issued and two players sent off.

The Gamecocks' Blake Brettschneider was red carded early in the second half for a half that sent Ababio to the sidelines with a leg injury.

In the 65th minute, South Carolina's Stephen Morrissey took Farfan out of the game and was issued a yellow card. Farfan was taken to the hospital for X-rays.

Eight minutes later, it was Tar Heel forward Alex Dixon's turn to get ejected.

Freshman Robbie Lovejoy, playing in his first collegiate action, won the game with a breakaway goal in the 78th minute.

Another Preseason All-American, Billy Schuler, is out with a shoulder injury, and midfielder Cameron Brown was lost with an ACL tear.

A week ago, Stephen McCarthy was lost with a broken jaw, while Brett King quit a day later because of foot problems.

Costa Rican freshman Bruno Castro missed the South Carolina game with a hamstring injury.