In a performance as unrelenting as the rain that consistently fell at Fetzer Field on Thursday, the North Carolina women's soccer team earned its second conference win on the season, dominating Syracuse to a tune of 3-1.
The Tar Heels (9-0-1, 2-0-0 ACC) made use of the long ball early against the Orange (4-6-1, 0-2-0 ACC), who often let UNC attackers find space behind its back line.
In the 24th minute, senior forward Summer Green lofted a ball over the top of the opposing defense to Alexa Newfield, who calmly converted into the bottom right corner of the goal.
The goal marked the sixth on the season for Newfield, who is tied for the team lead in that category on the season.
Less than six minutes later, the Tar Heels were able to push their lead to two.
After first-year Dorian Bailey started an attack just outside the box, Jessie Scarpa and Newfield combined for a nifty string of passes, which eventually landed the ball at the feet of Bailey. She powered the ball past Syracuse's goalkeeper to put UNC up 2-0.
Despite being outshot 12-1 in the first half, the Orange opened the second half with a new-found energy.
This spirit turned into production in the 54th minute, when Syracuse cut the deficit in half. After a ball careened off the crossbar and fell in front of goal, Orange sophomore Sheridan Street punched the ball into the back of the net to pull within one
But North Carolina responded quickly. Shortly after the Syracuse goal, Scarpa headed a ball into the bottom right corner of the net. The score put the Tar Heels up 3-1, which proved to be the game's final score.
