Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels Soccer

Late Seminoles goal spoils UNC comeback attempt

The top-ranked UNC women’s soccer nearly knocked off No. 3 Florida State on Sunday, Sept. 24. A late Seminoles goal forced a 3-3 tie.

The top-ranked UNC women’s soccer team was minutes away from knocking off a fellow ACC rival – third-ranked Florida State – on Sunday afternoon in Chapel Hill.

Kate Faasse put home a beautiful cross from Ally Sentnor in the 86th minute, sending the Dorrance Field crowd into a frenzy. The Tar Heels ran towards each other in celebration, knowing very well they had a job to finish.

Pressure was on FSU to score, but also UNC to hold its slim lead with minutes to go.

Unfortunately, with seconds to go, the Seminoles’ Mimi Van Zanten shot a deflected Emmie Allen save into the top portion of the net for a 3-3 tie.

The Tar Heels should be proud of their effort, considering they trailed until Maddie Dahlien’s 77th-minute goal. They went head-to-head with an FSU team expected to contend for the ACC crown once again.

Sentnor started the Carolina scoring in the 42nd minute, netting her team-high fifth goal off a save from Seminoles keeper Cristina Roque.

Next up for the Tar Heels is a rivalry matchup with N.C. State on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Wolfpack’s Dail Soccer Field. UNC downed their Raleigh rivals, 2-0, in Chapel Hill last year for its 400th home win.

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UNC men’s soccer squad remains undefeated by downing UNCW

The UNC men’s soccer team is also enjoying a stellar start to its season, moving to 3-0-3 with a 3-0 victory over UNCW Tuesday night.

If you’re a UNC soccer fan, chances are you’re pretty happy right now.

Not only is the top-ranked women’s soccer squad undefeated – the men are as well.

On Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Dorrance Field, the Heels moved to 3-0-3, downing UNC-Wilmington 3-0 behind a 2-goal effort from graduate student Martin Vician.

UNC’s scoring just six minutes into the game, thanks to Vician finishing off a re-directed cross from teammate Quenzi Huerman. The Tar Heels extended their lead just nine minutes into the second half, when they took advantage of a turnover and Vician rocketed a low shot past UNCW goalkeeper Jacob Randolph.

After 19 minutes without a goal, Huerman got in on the scoring action. He one-timed a low pass from teammate Juan Caffaro, notching his team-high fifth goal of the year. Huerman’s five goals are the most by a Tar Heel through six games since 2011.

Next up for UNC is its archrival, 8th-ranked Duke, as the two Tobacco Road rivals face off in Chapel Hill on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils are coming off their first loss of the year, a 2-0 defeat at Clemson.

Fans can watch UNC-Duke on the ACC Network.

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Maycee Bell named ACC Defensive Player of the Week

UNC women’s soccer player Maycee Bell won ACC Defensive Player of the Week, in large part for her role during the Heels’ 1-0 shutout of VT.

When your soccer team has only allowed four goals through nine games, defense and goalkeeping typically tend to be the main reasons for that.

Such is the case for the UNC women’s soccer team, which currently holds a 6-0-3 record entering its game on Thursday, Sept. 21 at ACC rival UVA.

The Heels are fresh off a defensive battle last Friday night, when a 66th minute Evelyn Shores goal was all they needed in a 1-0 defeat of Virginia Tech.

There is one Tar Heel in particular – redshirt senior Maycee Bell – who is being honored as part of the defensive brick wall UNC has created.

Earlier on Monday, Sept. 19, Bell was tabbed ACC Defensive Player of the Week.

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Bell won the POTW award for the fourth time – but first since 2020 – in her long collegiate career. She continues an impressive streak by her team, as UNC’s captured all but one ACC Defensive Player of the Week award in 2023.

Bell’s strong defensive skills have also helped the Tar Heels limit all nine opponents to 11 shots or fewer, including just one for Gardner-Webb on Thursday, Aug. 31. She’s also a reliable player, playing a full 90 minutes in seven of the Heels’ nine matches.

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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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Maycee Bell’s hops land her new program record

Maycee Bell, a redshirt senior on the UNC women’s soccer team, set a program record with her 34.5-inch vertical jump in game action.

Maycee Bell is expected to be a key contributor on a UNC women’s soccer team looking to avenge last year’s NCAA Championship defeat.

Bell was one of three Tar Heels selected to the Preseason All-ACC squad, along with teammates Sam Meza and Ally Sentnor. Bell’s been part of a Tar Heel defense that’s, through two games this season, only allowed one goal.

Bell and her Tar Heel teammates limited opponents to 20 goals last year, including an August in which UNC’s opposition never found the back of the net.

Not only is Bell a solid defender, though, she can also get up.

Preseason All-ACC and program record holder? You could say Bell, who’s a redshirt senior, is enjoying her last year in Tar Heel Blue.

Next up for Bell and Carolina is a Thursday, Aug. 24 home contest against the University of Wisconsin. The Badgers, just like UNC, are 1-0-1 after their first two games. They beat UIC (University of Illinois-Chicago) 1-0 on Sunday, while Avery Patterson, Melina Rebimbas and Olivia Thomas helped the Heels down California by a 3-1 score.

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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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UNC women’s soccer team two weeks out from home opener

The UNC women’s soccer team, which lost a 3-2 heartbreaker in last year’s NCAA title game, is just two weeks away from its season opener.

Is this the year UNC’s women’s soccer team will finally break through and win their 22nd national championship?

The Heels, unarguably the greatest collegiate program of all-time, hasn’t won a national championship since 2012. They’ve come awfully close in recent years – last year should’ve been number 22. The Heels led 2-0 entering the 80th minute of play, then UCLA scored two goals to tie things up. The Bruins crushed UNC’s hopes with a second-overtime winner.

Good news for Heels fans – the season starts exactly two weeks from today. Tickets are now on sale – season tickets starts at $64 dollars, while tickets for the Sunday, Aug. 20 opener against California start at $8.

Expectations are high for Carolina – they return a pair of double-digit goal scorers in senior Avery Patterson (13) and Ally Sentnor (10). Goalkeeper Emmie Allen, entering her redshirt sophomore season, saved 70 shots and allowed just 17 goals across 26 starts.

Though Florida State is being picked to win the ACC by Soccerwire.com, there, it’s really anyone’s conference.

If you want to see your soccer Heels on their quest for title number 22, get your tickets today!

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