The No. 3 UNC women’s soccer team (15-2-1, 10-0 ACC) concluded its regular season schedule with a 1-0 Senior Night victory over Wake Forest (8-8-1, 4-6) at WakeMed Soccer Park on Thursday.
What happened?
The first half was a frustrating one for the Tar Heels — with only two shots through the first 20 minutes.
Despite the lack of shots, UNC looked the more threatening side in the early stages, and were the first to record a shot. In the 15th minute, senior midfielder Dorian Bailey had two tantalizing chances. The first came on a shot inside a crowded 18-yard box that was blocked.
The second came moments later on a through ball up the middle of the field. While she caught up with it, the play was called back for offsides.
Except for a of couple brief spells of possession in the North Carolina defensive third, Wake Forest remained on the defensive for the majority of the first half. The Demon Deacons did not register their first shot until the waning moments of the opening period, an ambitious effort by Mariah Lee that sailed straight into UNC goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak’s gloves.
The Demon Deacons were able to bend not break, however, in large part due to the play of senior goalkeeper Nonie Frishette. Frishette had three saves in the first 45 minutes, with none bigger coming one-on-one in the box with UNC’s leading scorer Alessia Russo to help ensure a scoreless first half.
The second half got off to a scary start for the Tar Heels. Russo went down in a heap after colliding with Frishette as they vied for a ball in the middle of the penalty area. She stayed down for multiple minutes and was eventually helped off the field by trainers in the 51st minute without putting any weight on her right leg.
The match momentum returned to North Carolina in a major way deep in the half.
