The No. 5 UNC women’s soccer team (4-0) defeated Arizona (3-1), 2-0, Sunday afternoon at Dorrance Field in the first meeting between the two squads in program history.
North Carolina started aggressive, creating a scoring opportunity just three minutes into the game when sophomore forward Olivia Thomas placed a ball towards the back post to junior midfielder Kate Faasse which missed just right of the net.
The Tar Heels continued their pressure, forcing five corners in the opening 25 minutes of the game. But UNC was unable to connect on any of the set pieces. The closest chance came from a corner taken by junior defender Tessa Dellarose which was headed over the net by first-year defender Trinity Armstrong.
UNC continued to dominate play throughout the later minutes of the first half with ten shots, five on goal, all saved by Arizona junior goalkeeper Olivia Ramey, who was the key piece of the Wildcat’s defense on Sunday.
Although UNC dominated possession in the first 45 minutes, the two teams entered halftime scoreless.
North Carolina came right out of the half swinging with a give-and-go between Thomas and first-year midfielder Linda Ullmark which resulted in a crossbar shot by Ullmark.
Five minutes later, Arizona’s goalkeeper continued to be the key factor in the Wildcat’s defense when she came up big with a foot save on a ball to the bottom right corner of the goal, shot by Thomas.
Ultimately, the Tar Heels broke the scoreless game in the 75th minute with a top-left shot by Dellarose for her second goal of the season. The goal came after UNC’s 14th corner kick of the game, forced by Ullmark.
Twelve minutes later, UNC was able to capitalize again with an unassisted goal from Thomas, her third of the season with just three minutes left in the game.
