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The Daily Tar Heel

UNC women’s soccer fights hard for Duke win

The North Carolina women’s soccer team isn’t a fan of the “underdog” tag.

That much became clear in the opening minutes of Thursday night’s game against No. 4 Duke.

Early on, the No. 10 Tar Heels entrenched themselves in the attacking third of Fetzer Field, routinely visiting the end line with three earned crosses in the first three minutes.

But matched up against a top-ranked defense, the Tar Heels consistently came up empty.

“They were attacking, but they were not dangerously attacking,” Duke head coach Robbie Church said. “They were wide. They were shoving balls in. (Goalkeeper Tara Campbell) made saves, but they were nothing spectacular.”

Averaging just .33 goals allowed per game, Duke came to Fetzer tied for first in the ACC and third in the nation in terms of scoring defense, and the Blue Devils displayed that defensive prowess early and often.

Despite controlling possession for much of the first half, the Tar Heels weren’t able to put their first shot across until a Courtney Jones attempt in the 16th minute, as they saw most of their chances dissolve in the Blue Devil goal box.

“We knew we had to come out really hard, and they came out really hard also,” said sophomore Kealia Ohai, who scored the game-winning shot in the 88th minute. “It was almost a little panicked at the beginning, and everyone was so intense.”

In the first half, that intensity was visible in two powerful shots by Ohai and Jones that both sailed over the Blue Devil net and in the flurry of four UNC shots delivered in the final nine minutes.

But of the Tar Heels’ seven first-half shots, only two were on goal, and it didn’t help that Campbell was manning the goal box for the Blue Devils.

The junior goalkeeper has pitched ten shutouts this year, adding to her career total of 14. And with 226 saves, Campbell entered the game fifth all-time for Duke.

“She’s an awesome goalie,” Ohai said. “We know that every time coming in when we play Duke, and so I mean it just depends on if you get that lucky shot.”

To get that lucky shot, the Tar Heels dialed down the intensity a notch in the second half. In the final 45 minutes, the team only delivered three shots, but two of those were on goal.

With its calmer approach, the team was finally able to crack the tough Blue Devil wall in the 88th minute.

Ohai got her chance, and she knocked in the crippling blow.

Contact the Sports Editor

at sports@dailytarheel.com.

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