Tag: Avery Patterson

Senior stars shine in UNC women’s soccer home finale

The UNC women’s soccer team was clicking in virtually every aspect on Sunday afternoon, beating Syracuse in its home finale by a 6-1 mark.

After three consecutive ties, the UNC women’s soccer team wondered when another solid effort would put a win in its back pocket.

How about Senior Day?

On Sunday afternoon in Chapel Hill, Tar Heels senior Avery Patterson scored two second-half goals, leading her team to a dominant, 6-1 victory over the Syracuse Orange.

It took UNC a little while to score, but the floodgates opened once it did.

Senior Maycee Bell, Carolina’s main defensive star, started the scoring barrage with her 34th-minute tally on a beautiful re-direct.

Minutes later, junior Bella Sember scored her first of the year. She deked out a Syracuse defender, then sent a low show past Syracuse keeper Shea Vanderbosh.

After a brief halftime break, UNC senior midfielder Sam Meza scored her first of the year on a rebound. Syracuse’s Erin Flurey stopped the bleeding momentarily, but not before Patterson scored her team-leading eighth and ninth goals of the season.

You thought five goals were enough? Think again.

Carolina freshman Melina Rebimbas ended the scoring onsalught with her second of the season, sending another low shot past the outstreched arm of Vanderbosh.

UNC has one more game remaining on its schedule, a 7 p.m. kickoff on Thursday night at Boston College. If the Tar Heels win, they’d finish undefeated heading into an expectedly-difficult ACC Tournament.

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Tar Heels top collegiate women’s soccer rankings in latest poll

The UNC women’s soccer team, off to a 6-0-3 start to its 2023 campaign, ranks number one in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll.

It’s been a heck of a ride for the UNC women’s soccer team so far this season.

The Heels currently sport a record of six wins and three ties, with the most recent result being a 1-0 defeat of Virginia Tech last Friday night. Carolina’s beaten two ranked teams – #7 South Carolina (2-1), and #11 Arkansas (3-1) – plus tied #4 Penn State (0-0) and #9 Alabama (1-1).

As a result of their early success, UNC currently sits atop the United Soccer Coaches’ Poll. The Heels are ahead of powers Stanford and Florida State (three national championships each), plus last year’s champion, UCLA.

Players are dominating on both sides of the ball. Senior Avery Patterson leads five multi-goal scorers with four tallies, while freshman Melina Rebimbas anchors the passing attack with three assists (four players have multiple).

Opponents have only scored four goals on the Tar Heels – that’s a combination of rock-solid defense and four shutouts from goalkeeper Emmie Allen. UNC’s most impressive defensive streak came in late August, when it shutout Wisconsin, USC and Gardner-Webb in back-to-back-to-back clashes.

After the 3-game shutout streak, Carolina only allowed three total goals to three ranked SEC teams in Arkansas, South Carolina and Alabama.

UNC has another tough test coming up, as it travels to #22 UVA on Thursday night. The Heels lead the all-time series 16-5-4, but lost 3-2 last year in Chapel Hill.

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Third-ranked Tar Heels battle to tie with Crimson Tide in Sunday soccer clash

The third-ranked UNC women’s soccer team battled a tough, 12th-ranked Alabama squad to a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon.

Being undefeated eight games into your season is an impressive feat, no matter what sport you play.

Such is the case for the UNC women’s soccer team, the NCAA’s all-time winningest program with 21 national championships.

On Sunday afternoon, the third-ranked Tar Heels battled to a 1-1 tie with 12-ranked Alabama. It appeared UNC might exit Tuscaloosa with its sixth victory, but a late Crimson Tide goal gave the Heels their third tie.

Carolina opened the scoring in half number two during the 58th minute, when 2022 goal leader Avery Patterson sprinted down the field and pushed a low shot past Alabama keeper Coralie Lallier. UNC generated several more shots on goal during the second half, including one after the Crimson Tide knotted things up in the 78th minute.

The Tar Heels enjoyed an 18-11 shot advantage, including a 7-3 mark on goal, in their final non-conference clash. They return to Dorrance Field on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., when they host a Virginia Tech team coming off an NCAA tournament appearance of its own.

UNC isn’t looking to just make another postseason appearance this year – it’s looking to win its 22nd title, especially after coming within 10 minutes of winning it last year.

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UNC women’s soccer program remains undefeated after first weekend of play

The UNC women’s soccer team, who lost in last year’s National Championship matchup with UCLA, has a win and a tie under its belt in 2023.

The University of North Carolina women’s soccer program remains in a good spot after its opening weekend of 2023 play.

On Thursday, Aug. 17, the second-ranked Heels traveled up to Happy Valley for their opener with Penn State. UNC drew 0-0 with the 10th-ranked Nittany Lions, but held a 19-5 shot advantage. Being able to get this many shots off against a top-ranked opponent bodes well for the future.

Carolina played well in Pennsylvania, but fared better in its return to Dorrance Field on Sunday – a 3-1 victory over Cal-Berkeley. 2022 leading goal scorer Avery Patterson started the scoring off a corner kick three minutes in, then UNC took the lead for good when freshman Melina Rebimbas scored with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Olivia Thomas, another freshman, extended Carolina’s lead to 3-1 with a goal less than two minutes into the second half. Defense locked down the rest of the game, holding California scoreless.

UNC will stay at home through Labor Day Weekend, with contests against Wisconsin (Thursday at 4 p.m.), USC (Sunday at 1 p.m.), Gardner-Webb (8/31 at 7 p.m.) and Arkansas (9/3 at 2 p.m.). The Carolina-Arkansas game will pit two NCAA tournament teams against each other – UNC lost to UCLA in the national championship, while Arkansas lost to Florida State in the third round.

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UNC women’s soccer team kicks off 2023 campaign Thursday at Penn State

The UNC women’s soccer team, which fell minutes short of a 22nd national championship last year, opens its 2023 season tomorrow night.

Last year looked like it might finally be when UNC’s women’s soccer program snapped its long title drought, as the Heels led 2-0 entering the 80th minute of the NCAA championship against UCLA.

Two quick Bruin goals, plus another in the second overtime period, all but ended Carolina’s hopes of title number 22.

With several key players back this season, highlighted by preseason All-ACC players Maycee Bell, Sam Meza and Ally Sentnor, UNC is one of the title favorites.

The Heels kick off their quest for another championship tomorrow evening, as they travel up to Happy Valley for a 7 p.m. kick-off with Penn State. The Nittany Lions defeated Carolina archrival Duke, 1-0, to capture the 2015 National Championship.

Penn State finished 15-5-3 (5-3-2) last year, advancing all the way to the NCAA tournament’s third round before falling to Virginia.

UNC went 20-5-1 (8-2) in 2022, with their lone losses coming to UCLA (twice), UVA, Virginia Tech and Florida State (ACC championship). Sentnor (10) and Avery Patterson (13) led the attack with double-digit goal totals, while Emmie Allen was practically a brick wall in net with 70 saves and 19 wins.

After traveling up East to Pennsylvania, the Heels open their home slate on Sunday against California (1 p.m.)

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UNC women’s soccer team tabbed as preseason ACC favorites

The UNC women’s soccer team, who was 10 minutes away from winning their 22nd title last year, is picked as the 2023 ACC preseason favorite.

The University of North Carolina women’s soccer program is undoubtedly the country’s best.

UNC’s appeared in every NCAA tournament since 1982, when the NCAA started sponsoring women’s soccer. Despite not winning a title since 2012, the Heels’ 21 ranks most all-time.

The next closest? Stanford, Notre Dame and Florida State, all tied for three.

Carolina almost won another championship last year, as they had a 2-0 lead over UCLA heading into the 80th minute. The Bruins, with their backs against the wall, tied the game up with two quick ones. A winner in the second overtime prevented UNC from singing along to Taylor Swift with its 22nd title.

This trip to the title game, plus nine returning starters, was convincing enough for Carolina to be picked as the ACC’s preseason favorite.

Headlining the returners are preseason All-ACC players Maycee Bell, Sam Meza and 2022 10-goal scorer Ally Sentnor. Meza scored two goals and dished out four assists in 15 starts last year, while Bell was part of a defense that only allowed 20 goals.

She’s not on the preseason All-ACC team, but last year’s leading goal scorer Avery Patterson (13) returns to lead the offense. In goal? The Heels return a stud netminder in Emmie Allen, who won 19 matches and saved 70 shots.

Coaching North Carolina is Anson Dorrance, who’s been in Chapel Hill ever since the program’s inception in 1979.

Regardless of who UNC matches up against this season, opponents are in for a tough contest. Is this the year Carolina finally snaps its championship drought?

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