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CHAPEL HILL — After last season ended in heartbreak, the No. 2-ranked Carolina women’s soccer team reloaded with the nation’s top freshman class, and the Tar Heels are poised to make another College Cup run with an “extra chip” on their shoulders. You won’t have to convince East Carolina, which could never get much going Saturday night at Dorrance Field. ACC favorite Carolina coasted to a 2–0 win in both teams’ second and final exhibition match, outshooting the Pirates 20–3.
After making the ACC tournament and NCAA tournament championship games a year ago, No. 2-ranked North Carolina is the favorite to win the ACC women’s soccer title and has three players on the preseason All-ACC team.
The No. 2 North Carolina women’s soccer team rolled to an 8–1 victory over College of Charleston in the first of two preseason exhibition games. Redshirt sophomore forward Ally Sentnor and freshman forward Olivia Thomas each notched two goals at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill on a steamy day as the Tar Heels outshot Charleston 36–9.
North Carolina, seconds away from winning its 23rd national championship in December, is No. 2 in the preseason United Soccer Coaches’ women’s Top 25 released Tuesday and faces the toughest schedule in the country.
A sweltering night at Kenan Stadium didn’t go so well for Wrexham goaltender Ben Foster, but he enjoyed his time in Chapel Hill. He gives you the sights and sounds from his perspective in an interesting nearly 15-minute video. Chelsea won the friendly 5–0 but Chapel Hill and Carolina appears to have won over Foster, although the 40-year-old veteran clearly didn’t like the heat.
Six Tar Heels are playing in the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand; a seventh is a head coach. Group play has already produced a huge win for Katie Bowen.
CHAPEL HILL — Football before a packed Kenan Stadium is nothing new. But when 50,596 fans filled the stadium Wednesday, it was anything but normal and a huge night for soccer fans. With the turf traded for temporary natural grass, the football was English-style and played in the oppressive July heat.
Ahead of Wednesday’s historic match at Kenan Stadium, Chelsea left back Mark Cucurella, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino and Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson spoke to the media.
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