WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- North Carolina scored a controversial goal with about two minutes left in the first overtime period, lifting the 19th-ranked Tar Heels to a 2-1 win over No. 5 St. John’s on Friday night at Spry Stadium in first round action of the Wake Forest Classic.

Freshman forward Jamie Martin, a member of the United States team that recently competed in the U-17 World Cup in Finland, headed a cross at the far post from Marcus Storey past St. John’s senior goalkeeper Bill Gaudette (Hummelstown, Pa.). Gaudette, who was at the far post but turned back towards the goal as the cross came over his head, appeared to have stopped the ball before it crossed the line, but the assistant referee ruled it a goal, giving the Tar Heels a 2-1 win.

North Carolina had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half on one of its lone scoring chances in the opening stanza. In the 26th minute, North Carolina forward Michael Harrington eluded Red Storm freshman defender Georgios Spanos and was able to dribble down the wing freely. Drawing defenders in, Harrington sent a cross to the box, and Storey put it in past Gaudette for a 1-0 lead.

The Red Storm, however, countered just under 10 minutes later, tying the game. Junior Matt Groenwald (Mt. Prospect, Ill.), who was outstanding up front, saved the ball on the end line and dribbled back upfield before passing to classmate Chris Corcoran (Marshfield, Mass.). Corcoran headed the ball to the far post and sophomore forward Sebastian Ralph (Gothenburg, Sweden) tapped the ball in from six yards out, beating UNC keeper Justin Hughes to the far post and tying the game at 36:43.

St. John’s came out strong in the second half and controlled play for most of the period, taking 10 shots, including six on goal. The Tar Heels, however, had the first opportunity in the second half, with Harrington beating Spanos down the far sideline and breaking away. He took a shot from 18 yards out that went wide past Gaudette.

The Red Storm countered. After a foul by the Tar Heels, a free kick from senior Chris Wingert (Babylon, N.Y.) was blocked. Minutes later, a shot from senior Simone Salinno (Lucera, Italy) was saved by Hughes, and the rebound shot from Ashley Kozicki (Pleasant Valley, Pa.) was saved. The Red Storm kept the ball in their end and the threat was ended after a Salinno corner kick in the 63rd minute was cleared.

North Carolina appeared to have a chance to seal the game in the 71st minute when Spanos was called for a foul in the box. Ray Fumo’s penalty kick, however, went wide, and the game remained tied.

In the 73rd minute, junior Ryan Kelly (Marlton, N.J.) sent a cross from the far side line to about the 25-yard line, where Corcoran made a diving header and sent a bullet to goal, but right at Hughes, who made the save. The Red Storm had several other shots in the waning moments, with one from Salinno and one from Ralph going high. With less than two minutes to play and the Red Storm pressing the Carolina goal, Kelly picked up a loose ball at the far side of the box and sent a bullet that forced Hughes to dive for, and he made a diving save to preserve the tie. In the waning seconds, senior Angel Rodriguez (Toms River, N.J.) sent a corner kick to the far post that Ralph nearly headed in, but Hughes was able to save it. St. John’s outshot North Carolina, 13-7, with each team taking three corner kicks.

The Red Storm (0-1) play host Wake Forest on Saturday night at 7 p.m.