The No. 8 UNC women’s soccer team (10-1) beat Syracuse (6-5-1), 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at SU Soccer Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y. to remain undefeated in ACC play.
UNC came out strong, forcing two shots and two corners in the first five minutes of the game. Syracuse resorted to a four-back formation to try and contain the Tar Heel offense.
While North Carolina continued to pressure the Orange, the Tar Heels were unable to connect on a couple of crosses during the first 25 minutes of the game and seemingly fell flat for the remainder of the half.
UNC’s best opportunity came in the 27th minute of the game off of a Syracuse deflection, where the ball found first-year midfielder Ashley Pennie’s foot at the top of the box. Syracuse goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch aggressively came out of the net and collided with Pennie to make the save.
In the 42nd minute, UNC attempted their seventh shot of the half. After dribbling around a Syracuse defender at the top of the box UNC’s redshirt junior midfielder Emerson Elgin fired a shot to the bottom right corner of the net that was saved by Vanderbosch.
While neither team found the net in the first half, North Carolina shined defensively, allowing zero shots, compared to the eight shots taken by the Tar Heels.
Syracuse started the second half with high pressure on North Carolina. The Orange forced a corner kick four minutes into the half. Taken by Erin Flurey, the ball curved towards the net forcing UNC graduate goalkeeper Clare Gagne to make a punching save.
The Tar Heels came back with pressure of their own when a ball into the box resulted in a senior forward Bella Sember low corner shot, forcing Vanderbosch to make a save with her foot.
Syracuse continued to keep a lot of players back on defense, forcing the Tar Heels to stay out of the middle of the pitch.
