Category: Women’s soccer

UCLA rallies from late 2-goal deficit to deny UNC title

By R.L. Bynum CARY — Sixteen seconds away from ending a 10-year national championship drought, it was heartbreak for North … More

UNC holds off FSU, win away from 22nd NCAA women’s soccer title

CARY — Of all the scenarios Anson Dorrance might have anticipated, he probably never thought he would have to sweat out a three-goal lead against Florida State. That’s exactly what the North Carolina coach experienced over the final 15 minutes before his No. 2-seed and No. 2-ranked Tar Heels held on for a 3–2 victory Friday night over the No. 1-seed and No. 5-ranked Seminoles in NCAA women’s soccer semifinals.

UNC proves tournament committee wrong, rolls by Irish for 31st Women’s College Cup

North Carolina was surprised when the NCAA women’s soccer selection committee gave the No. 4-ranked Notre Dame a No. 1 seed and the No. 2-ranked Tar Heels a No. 2 seed. That meant that their quarterfinals meeting was in South Bend, Ind. But UNC proved that the seeding was flawed Saturday night by ousting the Irish 2–0 in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals to earn a record 31st trip to the College Cup and end their 12-game unbeaten streak.

Early second-half surge sends No. 2 UNC into NCAA women’s soccer quarterfinals

CHAPEL HILL — No. 15 Brigham Young held off No. 2 North Carolina’s offensive firepower for one half, but the Cougars withered against the Tar Heels’ constant pressure early in the second half. Junior midfielder Avery Patterson assisted freshman forward Maddie Dahlien on two decisive second-half goals during that dominant stretch. The Tar Heels fired the first 10 second-half shots in the 13 minutes after halftime, then held on for a 3–2 victory Saturday in the third round of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament.

Dorrance’s change with eye on national title, Sentnor fuel UNC win

HAPEL HILL — Many Carolina players wore gloves on a night in the mid-30s, but the gloves were off when it came to throwing down the Tar Heels’ new, more aggressive approach. Redshirt freshman forward Ally Sentnor, scoring twice for the second consecutive NCAA tournament game, was the main catalyst as No. 2-ranked UNC coasted to a 3–1 victory Thursday over No. 7-seed and unranked Georgia in the second round at Dorrance Field.

FSU stifles UNC offensively as Noles win third straight ACC women’s soccer title

CARY — Carolina has the women’s soccer tradition, but Florida State again showed that it continues to be the team to beat for now. The No. 5-ranked and No. 2-seed Seminoles rallied from a goal down early to beat the No. 2-ranked and No. 1-seed Tar Heels 2–1 Sunday for their third consecutive ACC tournament title before 3,876 fans.

UNC’s depleted defense comes through in a 1–0 women’s soccer win

CHAPEL HILL — From the start of the season, Coach Anson Dorrance said he had one of his deepest teams — except for his group of defenders. And that group keeps getting smaller. After losing for the season star center back Macee Bell in the season opener and then Kayleigh Herr, her replacement, shortly afterward, the Tar Heels persevered with defenders such as Julia Dorsey routinely playing all 90 minutes.

In another dominating effort, UNC avenges last year’s loss to N.C. State

CHAPEL HILL — In Carolina’s 400th home women’s soccer victory in program history, the Tar Heels’ scoring chances didn’t number that high, but it almost felt like it as they kept coming. With UNC dominating possession and keeping N.C. State’s chances to a minimum, only the outstanding goaltending from Wolfpack goalkeeper Maria Echezarreta kept it close. The Heels still came away with an impressive 2–0 victory Sunday before 3,683 fans at Dorrance Field.

Dominant UNC rebounds with impressive rout of No. 13 Pitt

CHAPEL HILL — Coming off a frustrating road loss and facing a No. 13 Pittsburgh team off to the best start in program history, No. 5 Carolina showed that it’s still one of the country’s most dangerous women’s soccer teams. UNC’s performance in a 4–0 win Thursday night at Dorrance Field to snap a five-game Panthers win streak was as dominating as Saturday night’s 2–1 loss at Virginia Tech was surprising.