news-record.com

GREENSBORO -- The Carolina Dynamo needed just a draw Friday night against the Fredericksburg Gunners to claim their desired spot in the upcoming playoffs.

And though they kept things a bit tense with some early impotency in front of the visitor's net, in the end their quality was evident with four second-half goals that sewed up second place in the division with a 4-0 win.

"Obviously we didn't have enough recovery time from Wednesday (1-0 road win against Cary)," Dynamo coach Joe Brown said, describing that game as a "war."

"But I think overall, they did what they had to do."

The Dynamo entered its final regular-season game with 29 points -- one behind second-place Cary, which had finished its season. Carolina needed just a draw to claim second in a tie-breaker and host a home playoff game against the Clarets (they won the season series with Cary 2-1).

Carolina missed an early chance just right of the post, which was a sign of things to come for the rest of the half. Over and over the Dynamo sprung a man free down the flanks or crossed dangerous balls into the box with no success.

Botched shots, tentative volleys and deflections from the keeper were the end results of those opportunities. Of particular note was a sequence in the 23rd minute when Karo Okiomah juked to the right touchline and crossed to an open Brian Shriver in the middle of the box, who shot wide left.

"We could've gone in the locker room four, five up. We just didn't finish it off," Brown said. "So we played a little bit to the level of the team that we played against."

Fredericksburg had a good chance in the 26th minute when a man broke through for a clear look on goal, only to be stoned by Dynamo keeper Brock Duckworth.

"Obviously we wanna put 'em away as early as we can," midfielder Kirk Urso said. "And when you let chances go by like that, the longer the game goes on, obviously you get a little edgy."

But after some ho-hum play to start the second half, the Dynamo finally claimed the goal in the 68th minute that virtually assured them of second place and the home game against Cary on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Urso took a pass near the top left of the box and danced to his right before firing a low shot that deflected off the keeper and into the bottom-right corner of the net.

"I got it from (Scott) Rojo down the line," Urso said. "And I was going to look to curl it back post, but the defender stepped. So I just took a touch by him and after that I was just looking to strike it and get it on target."

That opened up the offense, as Rojo -- who Brown said was "fantastic on the flank" -- put in a cross for a Sheanon Williams header goal in the 71st minute.

"We knew we just had to get one, and they would open up for us," Brown said.

Urso then added a dipping bomb from far out, and substitute Eddie Ababio finished off the scoring in the 79th minute as the Dynamo ended their regular season on a high note.

"We're a team that scores a lot of goals," Brown said. "And I think that's one of the tributes that I have to this group. They did a good job tonight finishing off."

Contact Jesse Baumgartner at 373-7091 or jesse.baumgartner@ news-record.com

Goals: Carolina -- Kirk Urso 2, Sheanon Williams, Eddie Ababio. Assists: Carolina -- Scott Rojo 2 Chris Estridge. Shots: Fredricksburg 5, Carolina 13. Saves: Fredricksburg 3; Carolina 5. Corner kicks: Fredricksburg 3, Carolina 5.

Records: Fredricksburg 3-9-3; Carolina 10-4-2.