Five-star Harpring brings toughness, versatility, and her dad’s grit to UNC

CHAPEL HILL — Kate Harpring arrived at Carolina with the sort of lofty expectations that come with being at the top of your freshman class nationally. The talented 5–10 guard will be a star on a veteran team that comes off back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances, and Coach Courtney Banghart quickly declared her probably the fastest player on the team.

UNC moves up in women’s soccer Top 25 ahead of ACC opener vs. Cal

North Carolina matched its season-high ranking in the Top 25 women’s soccer poll, moving up two spots to No. 7 after a pair of victories last week in Arizona. The Tar Heels (5-1) defeated Arizona 2-1 on Thursday and Arizona State 1-0 on Sunday. They are one of seven ACC teams in the United Soccer Coaches poll and one of five ranked in the top 10.

UNC launches official liquor line ahead of football home opener

Tar Heels fans have long known how to celebrate a win, a rivalry, and pretty much anything involving the color Carolina blue. Now, for the first time, they can toast to it with something that shows their school spirit via official spirits. UNC Athletics has teamed up with North Carolina-based Cape Fear Distillery to launch the Spirit of Carolina Collection, the university’s first officially licensed line of Tar Heels-branded spirits.

Belichick talks about adjustments after TCU and the strengths of ETSU

CHAPEL HILL — Bill Belichick spent the majority of Monday’s press conference deflecting questions about the investigation surrounding his program, but when the subject turned to football, he had plenty to say. UNC (1–0) hosts East Tennessee State (1–1) at noon at Kenan Stadium (ACC Network) in a game that also marks the 100th anniversary of the stadium’s opening, and Belichick acknowledged the milestone before turning his attention fully to the opponent and how he used the time during the week off.

Belichick focuses on ETSU, dodges questions about investigation

CHAPEL HILL — There was one subject most reporters wanted to ask Coach Bill Belichick about, but he did his best to weave around the questions that were asked in dozens of ways. With questions swirling around the program after Michael Lombardi resigned as general manager, there were news reporters from every Triangle TV station, in addition to the sports anchors, and two stations had news anchors on hand for Monday morning’s press conference at the Kenan Football Center.

Denigan’s PK earns UNC win to end long road trip

After thousands of miles of travel that included a trip to Dublin and a pair of victories in Arizona, No. 9 North Carolina finally heads home. The Tar Heels closed out the road trip with stingy defense and a clutch penalty kick, escaping a match they controlled all day with a 1–0 victory Sunday over Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

Ferri wins it in shootout, goaltender Skubisz stands as UNC knocks off No. 2 Princeton

CHAPEL HILL — While the shots were hard to come by for No. 10 North Carolina, goaltender Merritt Skubisz and her defense kept the Tar Heels in the game. The sophomore goaltender got her second shutout of the weekend to push No. 2 Princeton into a shootout, where Carolina prevailed 3–2 to earn a 1–0 victory Sunday at Karen Shelton Stadium.

UNC field hockey turns corner after two early losses, rolls in shutout

CHAPEL HILL — After one-goal losses and its first 0–2 start in five years, North Carolina’s field hockey team clearly has turned an early corner. The young No. 10 Tar Heels, who lost 67% of their goal production from last season’s Final Four team, steamrolled Penn 7–0 Friday evening at Karen Shelton Stadium in the Conference Crossover event.