UNC women's soccer still without a win or a goal

The North Carolina women’s soccer team has only played two official games this season.

One was against a Florida team that upset No. 2 Duke 3-2 in overtime on Sunday.

And UNC is playing without two of its best scorers — Kealia Ohai and Crystal Dunn, who are with the U.S. U-20 World Cup team.

But the facts are the facts.

The Tar Heels started the season ranked No. 8 in the country. They have now dropped six spots to No. 14. They don’t have a win. And they have not scored a goal.

And a program coming of the worst season in its history didn’t want to get off to a rocky start.

UNC played Florida to a 0-0 draw on Friday, staying winless and scoreless after a 1-0 upset loss to Portland in its season opener.

UNC did beat Montreal 1-0 in an exhibition match on Sunday after a Brooke Elby overtime goal.

But officially, the team will still go into its next match 0-1-1 with zero goals on the books.

“I was joking with the team after we won (the Montreal match). I basically said, ‘You know, boy, the offensive powerhouse is back,’” coach Anson Dorrance said. “Everyone started laughing because obviously we all know we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

The Tar Heels had scoring opportunities in both games but couldn’t capitalize against Florida.

In the first half, Amber Brooks had an open net but hit the right post. In overtime, Paige Nielsen hit the crossbar while a Maria Lubrano goal was negated when she was correctly whistled offside.

The Tar Heels controlled the ball in the Florida end and kept the Gators out of UNC’s box. UNC had five shots on goal to Florida’s one.

But that success didn’t translate onto the scoreboard.

“We’re generating better opportunities,” Brooks said. “The next step is just putting them in the back of the net.”

Montreal almost held the Tar Heels without a goal as well, despite UNC dominating the game.
The Tar Heels got into the box at will and fired shots from everywhere on the field. But for the first 90 minutes, none found the net.

Montreal goalie Martine Julien made eight saves. And twice, Montreal defenders blocked shots in front of wide-open nets.

But less than a minute into overtime, Elby looped a shot from just outside the upper-left side of the box that spun into the top right corner of the net.

“We’ve been playing so hard,” Elby said. “This whole season has been about finishing. This goal means the world to us.”

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