Top-ranked UNC blanks Miami; defense holds opponent shotless in half for sixth time

CHAPEL HILL — It’s hard to beat top-ranked North Carolina in women’s soccer this season, but unranked teams have no shot. There are many reasons, but it all starts with a defense that barely allows any shots. When Miami finally got off a shot in the 71st minute on a free kick during the Tar Heels’ 1–0 win Thursday at Dorrance Field, that ended a streak of 152 minutes, 15 seconds without an opponent getting off a shot. And it was the Hurricanes’ only shot of the night.

Dorrance, reluctantly bracing for 18-school ACC, intent on maintaining rivalries

Maintaining rivalries already was a challenge for Carolina when the ACC expanded to 15 schools, and it’s only going to get worse for the 2024–25 school year when the league adds Stanford, Cal and SMU. UNC women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance was a vocal opponent of the latest expansion and what it meant for his program in terms of travel and scheduling.

Top-ranked Heels roll by Wolfpack before record crowd

RALEIGH — After an intense and frustrating draw with Florida State, a letdown against a bad N.C. State women’s soccer team wouldn’t have been a surprise. Top-ranked North Carolina made sure there would be none of that, jumping out to an early lead and rolling to a 4–0 victory Saturday night over the one-win Wolfpack before a record crowd of 3,972 at Dail Soccer Field.

UNC stays atop women’s soccer Top 25, in control of ACC weekly awards

Carolina held the No. 1 spot in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 after remaining undefeated in a week with two games against ranked teams and continues to own the ACC’s weekly awards. The Tar Heels won 1–0 at Virginia (which went from No. 22 to unranked) and played Florida State (which moved up a spot to No. 2) to a 3–3 draw. The Tar Heels got all eight first place votes after the Seminoles got one first-place vote a week ago.

Halftime formation switch flips script for No. 2 Heels in win over Hokies

CHAPEL HILL — The pitch shifted dramatically in the second half, thanks to a formation shakeup. After No. 2 North Carolina got outshot in a half for the first time all season, the undefeated Tar Heels took control in the second half to avenge a loss last season with a 1–0 victory Friday over Virginia Tech at Dorrance Field in the ACC opener for both teams.

The better Carolina again: No. 3 UNC women’s soccer team gives No. 10 S. Carolina its first loss

A pair of top-10 SEC teams haven’t been able to overcome the No. 3 North Carolina women’s soccer team. Five days after the Tar Heels were the better Carolina on the football field, they proved the same on the soccer pitch. Four days after a two-goal win over No. 7 Arkansas in Chapel Hill, the undefeated Tar Heels won 2–1 in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday night to give No. 10 South Carolina its first loss.

No. 4 UNC overcome challenge of physical, pressing No. 8 Arkansas

CHAPEL HILL — After navigating opponents packing in defenders behind the ball most of the young season, the No. 4 North Carolina women’s soccer team dealt with a contrasting — and more entertaining — challenge against No. 8 Arkansas. The physical Razorbacks pressed, challenging the Tar Heels over the entire field. It was a refreshing change of pace for UNC, which won 3–1 on a brutally hot day at Dorrance Field to give Arkansas its first loss.