UNC women’s soccer overcomes missed first-half chances to roll past BC

CHAPEL HILL — After a tough two-match stretch and a frustrating first 43 minutes against Boston College on Sunday, No. 3 North Carolina showed why it’s one of the best women’s soccer teams in the country. At the wrong end of that, as is usually the case in this series, were the Eagles. The Tar Heels scored late in the first half and turned up the heat in the second half on their way to a 3–0 victory at Dorrance Field to shut out BC for the ninth time in the last 11 meetings.More

Irish’s offense goes from struggling to dominating UNC’s beleaguered defense

CHAPEL HILL — On a day that started with Carolina’s defense looking like it had finally gotten its act together, the Tar Heels quickly helped a previously inept Notre Dame offense have its best game of the season. UNC was manhandled on the line after holding the Irish to 40 first-quarter yards, and the number of blown coverage by the defense easily outnumbered the big plays it made.More

After Steelers’ second consecutive loss, Tomlin says he’s sticking with Trubisky

While there is growing frustration among Pittsburgh Steelers fans with the team’s offense under the direction of Mitch Trubisky after a second consecutive defeat, Coach Mike Tomlin is sticking with the former UNC quarterback. Trubisky didn’t throw a touchdown pass for the first time in three games, and the Pittsburgh Steelers lost at Cleveland 29–17 Thursday night. Otherwise, though, Trubisky had his best statistical game as a Steeler with season-highs of an 81.1 passer rating and 207 passing yards. He completed 20 of 32 passes with no interceptions and ran 1 yard for a second-quarter touchdown.More

Bucs place Bernard on injured reserve; Holcomb limited in practice; Trubisky plays Thursday

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed reserve running back Giovani Bernard on injured reserve Wednesday with an ankle injury, meaning he will miss at least the next four weeks. Bernard, 30, left Sunday’s victory over New Orleans in the third quarter and didn’t return. He didn’t get an offensive snap in the first two Bucs game, playing 11 special-teams snaps, including returning a kickoff 14 yards against the Saints.More

UNC field hockey holds at No. 2, women’s soccer slips in poll, cross country teams move up

While the unstoppable Carolina field hockey team held on to its No. 2 ranking, the UNC women’s soccer team fell a spot, and both cross country teams moved up in their polls. Coach Karen Shelton’s field hockey team is 7–0 after blanking No. 4 Louisville 3–0 Friday in its ACC opener. The Tar Heels, who have won their last four games by a combined score of 20–0, face No. 15 Wake Forest in their league home opener at 4 p.m. Friday (ACC Network Extra/ESPN3).More