Cavaliers outpace UNC women's soccer in ACC tournament

GREENSBORO — For Anson Dorrance, the No. 5 North Carolina women’s soccer team’s ACC tournament semi-final match against Virginia was similar to the classic children’s tale of the tortoise and the hare.

But unlike the story’s outcome, the tortoise didn’t prevail on Friday at UNCG Soccer Stadium, as the No. 4 Cavaliers’ midfielders ran circles around the UNC defense en route to a 2-0 win.

“Trust me, today, a little speed in the middle of midfield would have helped us a little, considering we had my turtles chasing their jackrabbits,” Dorrance said.

Both goals, which were scored in the first 30 minutes, were set up by UVa. midfielders Danielle Colaprico and Alexis Shaffer. Colaprico leads the ACC with 15 assists.

“We knew coming into this game that their midfield was probably the best in the country, so I feel like they were able to break down the team and create the chances themselves,” junior defender Katie Bowen said. “All credit to them. Their frontline and midfield are class.”

At the start of the game, the Tar Heels could not keep up with the speed of the Cavaliers’ midfielders, who helped them dominate possession. They outshot UNC 8-2 in the first half.

Shaffer broke away in the 11th minute and sent a pass to Makenzy Doniak, who was waiting in between two UNC defenders to finish and give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead.

As the Tar Heels struggled to create chances, Colaprico found Morgan Reuther, who curved the shot to the center of the goal, past the outstretched arm of UNC goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin in the 29th minute.

“Part of Virginia’s ability to defend is to not let the other team have the ball much, and that was certainly the case in the first half,” Dorrance said.

Despite being dominated, North Carolina had its best scoring opportunity with seconds to go in the first half.

Darcy McFarlane found the ball on a corner from Amanda Rooney and placed it perfectly past the keeper — the only problem was Virginia defender Megan Reid was waiting to head the ball away.

“I think that would really have turned the game had they got that one before halftime in that situation,” Virginia Coach Steve Swanson said.

In the second half, the Tar Heels were able to buckle down defensively and prevent chances — but the damage had already been done.

“This pace that Virginia was required to play at to dominate us in the first half, and then we continued that same pace and by the second half, Virginia struggled to stay at that pace,” Dorrance said.

After allowing eight shots in the first half to the Cavaliers, the UNC defense gave them just two in the second, neither of which were on goal.

Despite slowing down the hare in the second half, the tortoise still couldn’t catch up.

sports@dailytarheel.com