The No. 8 UNC women's soccer team (1-0) started off the season in the win column after a 2-1 victory against Denver (0-1) on Thursday night.
After former head coach Anson Dorrance announced his retirement on Sunday, interim head coach Damon Nahas began his coaching stint in Colorado. Despite the high altitude and opening game jitters, the Tar Heels took control of the match from the opening minute.
Denver started the match with three defenders at the back. The Pioneers' goal was to sit back, possess the ball and wait calmly for an opening to strike. The Tar Heels refused to let that happen, ensuring their opposition did not have time on the ball.
Initially, the plan worked as intended. UNC minimized the opposition's possession and controlled the tempo, forcing the Pioneers to play at their own pace.
Despite Denver's best efforts, the Tar Heels peppered sophomore goalkeeper Molly Wissman with shots throughout the first half.
First-year midfielder Linda Ullmark drove toward the goal, dribbling past two defenders before being stopped by a sliding challenge from senior midfielder Ella Frost. Junior defender Tessa Dellarose seized the opportunity, collecting the loose ball and launching a powerful strike outside the penalty area into the Pioneers' goal.
Although the Tar Heels struggled to convert their opportunities into goals, they did not allow a single shot on their goal during the first half.
After the halftime break, Denver came out swinging, adopting a similar high-press tactic to the Tar Heels during the first half. Consequently, UNC was forced to make erratic long passes, often giving away possession instead of playing around the press.
In the 50th minute, a mistimed tackle from senior midfielder Makenna Dominguez forced redshirt sophomore midfielder Hannah Tate to the ground, and the Pioneers were awarded a penalty. Frost slotted one off the left post to equalize the match.
