UNC women's soccer draws, 1-1, with No. 13 Clemson

For the first time in history, the matchup between the No. 18 North Carolina women’s soccer team and No. 13 Clemson ended in a tie Sunday. Despite early scoring by both teams in the first half, the two sides were unable to score again, taking the game all the way through double overtime to a 1-1 finish.

What happened?

North Carolina (6-2-2, 1-1-1 ACC) was the first team on the scoreboard early in the 24th minute after forward Annie Kingman deflected a shot off the post and into the net to put her team up 1-0. 

Clemson (8-2-1, 2-0-1 ACC) wasn’t far behind. In the 32nd minute, the Tigers knotted it up after a header was knocked off goalie Lindsey Harris.

The concluding periods of the game were highlighted by strong defensive performances. Both teams threatened with aggressive offenses, but neither could score. Clemson outshot North Carolina 18-16, though the Tigers only had a slight edge with shots on goal — finishing with seven shots on goal to North Carolina’s six.

Who stood out?

Annie Kingman, the only Tar Heel to score through the game's four periods, was a bright spot in the offense. Kingman was an offensive spark in the first half, scoring UNC's lone goal in the 24th minute.

Goalie Lindsey Harris highlighted the defensive stats sheet, as well. Harris had her hands full all game with a Clemson offense that produced 18 shots and seven shots on goal. Harris finished the day with six saves, allowing only one goal to slip through.

When was it decided?

The tie was not set in stone until the scoreboard hit triple zeroes, but the scoring halted midway through the first half. Seventy-eight minutes of hard fought offensive play ensued after Clemson’s score in the 32nd minute, but nothing reached the back of the net.

Why does it matter?

Sunday’s historic finish was a moral victory for Clemson. In the last 31 matches between the two schools, it was only the second time the Tigers escaped without a loss. 

For the Tar Heels, the tie signified that the offense has more work to do to reach its potential. The relatively young offense was outshot in the game and limited to just two corner kicks. After rebounding against Virginia Tech a few days ago, the Tar Heels still need more scoring if they hope to hold their own against their next opponent, No. 7 Virginia. 

Where do they play next? 

The Tar Heels will travel to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers at 1 p.m. on October 2. 

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