No. 3 UNC keeps up the amazing defense, rides offensive punch for rout of No. 24 USC

CHAPEL HILL — No. 3 Carolina continued its unyielding defensive ways and turned up the offense to match Sunday, thanks to one of the heralded members of the Tar Heels’ No. 1-ranked freshman class. Midfielder Evelyn Shores, playing in only her second game since recovering from an injury, came off the bench to earn a brace with two second-half goals in less than 2½ minutes and spark the Tar Heels’ 4–0 rout of No. 24 USC on a hot afternoon at Dorrance Field.

‘A dream come true’ for UNC’s Crawley, who makes first U.S. Open main draw

NEW YORK — The ball flew long from her opponent, and North Carolina senior Fiona Crawley grasped her mouth and covered it, which is not something the loquacious, energetic Crawley does much at all. The bundle of 24–7 energy and enthusiasm walked over to her towel at the back of Court 6 here at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, fist-bumped a man in a Carolina cap, and slowly walked to the net, still seeming unsure if she could believe what she had just done.

Matson coaching era starts much like her playing career: with an impressive win

CHAPEL HILL — The transition from Erin Matson, one the best college field hockey players in the sport’s history, to Coach Erin is complete. As she leads many of her former teammates — including one who is older — the team calls the 23-year-old first-year head coach Erin. But there’s plenty of respect for Matson, whose top-ranked team beat No. 4 Michigan 3–2 Friday night in her coaching debut at Karen Shelton Stadium in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge before a record crowd.

No. 3 UNC dominates but can’t finish, settles for frustrating scoreless draw

CHAPEL HILL — The scoring chances kept coming for No. 3 Carolina down the stretch. But a player wearing light blue denied the Tar Heels repeatedly. The Tar Heels played well and were unrelenting on defense. But Wisconsin fifth-year goalkeeper Erin McKinney, clad in shorts and a jersey that were light blue, made terrific saves all afternoon as the teams played to a scoreless draw on a steamy Thursday afternoon at Dorrance Field.

UNC slips in Top 25 women’s soccer poll; King ACC Defensive Player of Week

North Carolina fell one spot to No. 3 in the latest United Soccer Coaches women’s Top 25 on Tuesday, but star freshman center back Savy King in ACC Defensive Player of the Week. The Tar Heels (1–0–1) played Penn State (1–0–1) to a scoreless draw Thursday before knocking off Cal 3–1 in their home opener on Sunday. The Nittany Lions moved up two spots to No. 8.

UNC favored to win 7th consecutive ACC field hockey title; 2 Heels make Preseason All-ACC team

The ACC came to expect high achievement from North Carolina when Erin Matson was the best field hockey player in the country, and those expectations haven’t changed with her head coaching debut ahead on Friday. In the preseason ACC poll released on Monday, UNC is the favorite to win its seventh consecutive league title after going undefeated last season and winning the program’s 10th national title season, the final year under Coach Karen Shelton.