Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels Soccer

UNC women’s soccer program wins record 23rd National Championship

The UNC women’s soccer team snapped its long championship drought on Monday night, beating a fellow ACC rival.

Despite being the winningest program in women’s college soccer history, the North Carolina Tar Heels last won a National Championship in 2012.

That quickly changed on Monday night.

Only needing a free kick from sophomore Olivia Thomas in the 62nd minute, UNC captured their record 23rd National Championship in program history, winning 1-0 against in-state ACC rival Wake Forest.

North Carolina (22-5, 7-3 ACC) didn’t gain a ton of opportunities against a stout Demon Deacons (16-4-4, 7-2-1 ACC) defense, but made the most of its chance midway through the second half.

Thomas collected herself, curled a shot over Wake’s wall and past the outstretched arms of goalie Valentina Amaral. The Demon Deacons entered Monday’s championship match allowing just three combined goals in the NCAA Tournament, making Thomas’ goal against them a rarity – but one the North Carolina faithful expected of Thomas.

Speaking of goalkeepers, Tar Heels goalie Clare Gagne was a brick wall between the goal posts. Gagne made three saves on the night, including a couple point-blank ones early in the first half.

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UNC almost added a second goal in the closing seconds, but Amaral averted the threat.

Many outside of Chapel Hill wondered if North Carolina would even make the NCAA Championship, with longtime head coach Anson Dorrance retiring on August 11, after 45 seasons at the helm. The Tar Heels quickly tagged soccer mind Damon Nahas, an assistant coach with the program since 2015, as their interim head coach.

With Nahas leading UNC to a National Championship his first season as head coach, it’s time for him to be named the permanent head coach.

After yet another successful year, the Tar Heels are back at the top where they belong: the queens of college soccer.

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UNC Women’s Soccer advances to National Championship with second-straight win over Duke

It’s always a great day when North Carolina beats Duke.

Back on November 7, the UNC women’s soccer team dealt archrival Duke just its second loss of 2024.

On Friday, Dec. 6, North Carolina beat Duke again – but this time for a berth in the National Championship.

The Tar Heels overwhelmed the top-seeded Blue Devils, 3-0, in Friday’s College Cup semifinal from Cary, N.C. and advanced to their 28th National Championship game in program history.

How did second-ranked North Carolina (21-5, 7-3 ACC), win in such dominant fashion?

It all started early, with UNC scoring its first goal on Kate Faasse‘s penalty kick just 9:25 in. Faasse’s connection was her team-high 20th on the year. The Tar Heels didn’t even have to wait 15 minutes for their next goal, with Olivia Thomas scored her eight at the 23:55 mark in the first half.

North Carolina received its third goal from an unlikely source, Maddie Dahlein, who shot to the lower-left hand corner of the next for goal number three, tallied her second score on the year.

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UNC beat Duke, even with two key disadvantages: total shots and corner kicks. The Tar Heels registered nine total shots against Blue Devils goalkeeper Leah Freeman, while Claire Gagne saved all five Duke shots she face.

North Carolina only had one corner kick throughout Friday’s semifinal matchup, while the Blue Devils generated seven. Corner kicks are typically great ways to generate instant offense, so the fact UNC held Duke scoreless, is impressive in it own feat.

On Monday, Dec. 9, the Tar Heels will be playing for another National Championship, this time against in-state, ACC rival Wake Forest.

Can North Carolina leave Cary with its 21st National Championship in program history?

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UNC stuns top-seeded Duke in comeback victory, advances to ACC women’s soccer Title Game

The UNC women’s soccer team won an absolute thriller against archrival Duke on Thursday.

No matter how well the UNC women’s soccer team played during the regular season, there’s one thing it couldn’t do: beat archrival Duke.

North Carolina lost 1-0 at Duke back in September, then again on Halloween in the regular-season finale.

On Thursday night in the ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament semifinal, the Tar Heels finally enacted revenge.

After trailing 1-0 heading into halftime, UNC staged a second-half rally, scoring its second goal with under 10 minutes left for  2-1 victory over the top-ranked Blue Devils.

North Carolina (16-4) dealt Duke its first loss since August 15, when Duke lost 1-0 at Ohio State.

If you didn’t watch Thursday night, let us take you through the exciting comeback.

The Tar Heels allowed their lone goal of the game 28 minutes in, when Blue Devils defender Cameron Roller converted on a penalty kick. UNC goalkeeper Claire Gagne was solid otherwise, saving four shots.

When the second half started counting down, North Carolina started firing up.

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The Tar Heels‘ first goal looked extremely similar to Stanford’s goal in the men’s tournament. Not even five minutes into the second half, Linda Ullmark sent a long shot into the box, with the ball bouncing off Duke keeper Leah Freeman’s outstretched arms and rolling slowly into the net.

UNC only was able to earn three corner kicks against the Blue Devils’ tough defense, but made one of those pay off. With approximately 10 minutes left in the second half, North Carolina defender Trinity Armstrong scored her first goal of the season, pushing a header into the goal for a 2-1 advantage.

When the final seconds ticked off, the Tar Heels piled on goalie Claire Gagne.

North Carolina will try for its 23rd ACC Tournament Championship – and first since 2019 – at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10 when it faces Florida State.

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Two former North Carolina Tar Heels now Olympic Gold Medalists

Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox found championship-level success as Tar Heels. They’re now Olympic Gold Medalists.

After waiting for what seemed like forever, the United States Women’s National Soccer Team captured its fifth Olympic Gold Medal on Saturday afternoon, beating Brazil 1-0 in the 2024 Paris Tournament.

A couple of former North Carolina Tar Heels played integral parts in our country’s journey to gold.

Midfielder Crystal Dunn and defender Emily Fox played all of the USWNT’s gold medal match. Dunn committed one foul and drew two herself, while Fox also drew two fouls – and helped keep a pesky Brazilian squad off the board, despite a goal called back from offsides and several more A-rate chances afterwards.

If you remember Dunn from her time at UNC, she played from 2010-2013 and helped North Carolina capture the 2012 National Championship. Dunn was First Team All-ACC each of her four collegiate seasons, plus the 2013 ACC Offensive Player of the Year.

Fox was later a Tar Heel from 2017-2020, earning First Team All-ACC honors during her final three seasons in Chapel Hill. Fox helped UNC reach the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Tournament Championships, only for UNC to lose in each.

Dunn currently plays club soccer for Gotham FC, based out of northern New Jersey. Fox may stay overseas in Europe, as her club team is England-based Arsenal.

How cool is it for two former Tar Heels to now add Olympic Gold to their successful careers?

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Two former Tar Heels playing for a Gold Medal on Saturday morning

The Paris 2024 Olympics will feature two former UNC soccer standouts in the women’s soccer gold medal match.

When the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics started back on July 24, there were a plethora of bright-eyed athletes from countries across the world, ready to chase their dreams by competing for medals.

With the Olympics quickly approaching their final day on Sunday, Aug. 11, there are only a fraction of those bright-eyed athletes left.

Two of those remaining athletes are actually former North Carolina Tar Heels: Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox, both integral parts of the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.

Dunn and Fox will be playing in the Gold Medal Match on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. ET, looking to help the USWNT capture its first Olympic Gold Medal since 2012, when it beat Japan 2-1 in the London 2012 Olympics.

Dunn has one assist through five games for the US, while Fox is part of a defense that has only allowed two goals.

Dunn played at UNC from 2010-2013, scoring 31 goals in 80 matches and helping her Tar Heel teammates capture the 2012 National Championship. Dunn’s club team is Gotham FC, whom she has a goal and two assists in 16 appearances (10 starts).

Fox later played at UNC from 2017-2020, scoring two goals in 69 matches. Her 11 assists were most on North Carolina’s 2019 squad, but her Tar Heel career was highlighted by First Team All-ACC honors in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Will Dunn and Fox help the USWNT bring home its fifth overall gold medal?

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Former UNC soccer standout in line for prestigious NCAA award

Cindy Parlow Cone was one of the best soccer players to don a jersey for UNC. 25 years removed, she now won a prestigious award.

For all the talk UNC receives about being a basketball school, which it definitely is, there’s other programs who enjoy even more success.

The most historically dominant athletics program in Chapel Hill is the UNC women’s soccer team, who owns the all-time NCAA record with 21 national titles. Carolina nearly captured the 2022 championships but hasn’t won it all since 2012.

It’s not uncommon to see former Tar Heels on the National Team – Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Tobin Heath, to name a few.

How about Cindy Parlow Cone? She played with Hamm, was the National Player of the Year from 1996-1998, plus she helped Carolina capture the 1996 and 1997 NCAA Titles.

Now 25 years removed from collegiate soccer, Parlow won a prestigious collegiate honor – the 2024 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award.

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This award recognizes former student-athletes – 25 years after their collegiate careers end.

Cone’s stats backed up her historic UNC status, with 68 career goals and 53 assists. She continued on to enjoy a successful career with the USWNT, scoring 75 goals in 158 games while helping her national teammates win the 1999 World Cup, 1996 and 2004 Olympic Gold Medal games.

Cone was an assistant at Carolina from 2007-2012, coaching her players to titles in 2008, 2009 and 2012. Right now, she is president of the United State Soccer Federation.

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Carolina’s leading goal scorer named Third Team All-American

Quenzi Huerman’s offseason transfer to UNC was a blessing in disguise. He ended his lone season in Chapel Hill an All-American.

The UNC men’s soccer team used a strong run through the ACC tournament to earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Carolina entered the ACC tournament with just seven wins, then proceeded to rattle off consecutive victories against Georgia Tech, consistent ACC contender Wake Forest and Syracuse, the 2022 National Champions. UNC lost in penalty kicks of the ACC Championship to Clemson, who played Notre Dame for the 2023 National Title on Monday evening.

The Tar Heels continued their late-season momentum, downing Memphis and Hofstra at home in the NCAA Tournament’s first two rounds. Carolina hosted Oregon State on Saturday, Dec. 2 for a trip to the College Cup, but lost 1-0 to a team with an ineligible player.

Regardless of how UNC’s season ended, it wouldn’t have advanced to the Elite 8 without the leg of graduate transfer Quenzi Huerman.

Huerman’s 10 goals in 2023, tied for the team lead with Sweet 16 hero Martin Vician, earned himself Third Team All-American honors.

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Huerman was the only Tar Heel on any All-American team, which was saturated with fellow ACC opponents. There’s a case for Vician to be on there, too, but he was left off.

It’s safe to say the Tar Heels will miss their two graduate transfers next season, who both utilized their final year of college eligibility in Chapel Hill.

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Oregon State soccer player discovered ineligible AFTER Elite 8 win over UNC

The UNC men’s soccer team saw its strong season come to an end on Saturday, Dec. 2 in the Elite 8 round. Controversy emerged the week after.

Saturday, Dec. 2 was a sad night for UNC soccer fans, with the men’s team losing a tightly-contested, 1-0 defensive battle at home against Oregon State in the Elite 8.

The Beavers scored a first half goal and, despite a couple of solid Tar Heel chances, held on and advance to the College Cup. Oregon State has since seen its season come to an end, losing 1-0 to Notre Dame in a semifinal match.

What resulted long after UNC’s loss to the Beavers, however, is what’s frustrating.

Oregon State midfielder Javier Armas, a Pac-12 First Team selection this past year, was later discovered to be ruled ineligible for the UNC matchup.

Armas’ ineligibility resulted from his eighth yellow card accumulated in the Sweet 16, when the Beavers beat 2024 ACC newcomer SMU (Southern Methodist University).

Though it’s tough to find any good news for Carolina in this situation, Armas never scored in the Elite 8 contest. Soccer is one of those sports, however, where you don’t need to score to positively affect the game.

While there are a lot of what ifs in this situation, I’m sure this wouldn’t be talked about if UNC had emerged victorious. The Tar Heels did nothing wrong – it’s just simply not fair when an opponent’s best player, despite being ineligible, is allowed to play.

It’d be nice to see a replay, or even UNC in the College Cup, but we’re already at the Championship round. An ACC program will win it all regardless, as Notre Dame faces Clemson, on Monday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

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Isabel Cox ends UNC soccer career with program record

Isabel Cox was one of seven seniors on this year’s UNC women’s soccer team. She set a pretty historic career milestone.

The UNC women’s soccer team saw its successful season come to an end earlier than expected, watching a 3-goal, second-half lead disappear in a 4-3, Elite Eight loss to BYU.

Carolina had title aspirations, especially coming off a runner-up finish to UCLA the year before. BYU, however, was top seed for a reason.

Despite the disappointing end, UNC saw several players earn honors.

One of those players was forward Isabel Cox, a Greensboro, N.C. native who played in 21 of Carolina’s 23 games. Cox set a UNC record with 110 career matches played, which also ranks third all-time in NCAA history.

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UNC will definitely miss Cox next year, as she is one of seven Seniors set to graduate. Cox helped anchor a defense that only allowed multiple goals three times.

The Heels’ best stretch of 2023 play came in October, when they only allowed multiple goals in their first-round, ACC Tournament loss to Pitt.

Despite Cox and several of her senior teammates leaving, Carolina’s current roster lists 22 returners. 10 of those will be rising juniors, eight will be rising sophomores and four will be juniors.

Will 2024 finally be the year UNC snaps its championship drought? The Tar Heels have won an NCAA-record 21 titles, but haven’t captured one since 2012.

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UNC men’s soccer squad earns first-round bye in NCAA Tourney, will host Sunday

UNC made a run to the finals of the 2023 ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament, which netted them a high seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

The UNC men’s soccer team finished fourth in the ACC’s Coastal Division this year, but an impressive run through the ACC Tournament gained it a strong seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

Carolina beat Virginia Tech (4-1), ACC Atlantic Division winner Wake Forest (1-0) and 2022 National Champion Syracuse (3-1) en route to the ACC Championship. The Tar Heels tied Clemson through three overtimes, but lost 5-3 in penalty kicks.

That run was good enough to land UNC the third overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, which begins Friday with first-round games.

Carolina will play the winner of Memphis-SIU Edwardsville on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.

There’s a lot to be excited about as UNC prepares for a run at its third national title, with the last one coming in 2011.

Carolina is led offensively by double-digit goal scorer Quenzi Huerman (10) and Martin Vician (7), who combine for 57 percent of the goals.

Despite the offensive firepower, UNC’s foundation is on defense. Goalkeepers Andrew Cordes (13 starts), Quinn Closson and Collin Travasos (six combined) have limited Tar Heel opponents to just 12 goals, which is tied for fourth-best in the country.

Just how far will Carolina go this year? Watch Sunday’s opener on ESPN+, or buy tickets here.

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