Players nicknamed the 'game changers' push UNC women's soccer past Louisville

With the UNC women's soccer roster full of indisputable star power and scoring talent, a different set of players shined on Thursday night. They are referred to as the "game changers."

Made up of players who work hard and contribute to the team's success behind the scenes, this group doesn't often get as much recognition as the starters. Mainly because many of them haven't notched a goal on a game's stat sheet. Until now. 

“To get them on the field today was the bonus,” interim head coach Damon Nahas said. “They deserve it.” 

Led by the game changers, the No. 3 North Carolina women’s soccer team overpowered Louisville in a 5-0 victory at Dorrance Field. Out of UNC's five total goals, three came from players who have never scored for North Carolina. Two of these players have never scored in a collegiate match.  

Usually guarding North Carolina's net, first-year defender Aven Alvarez found herself in front of Louisville goalkeeper Kailey Kimball rebounding a free kick in the 38th minute.

Although Kimball made the initial save of senior forward Bella Sember's shot from outside the box, the goalkeeper couldn’t hold onto the ball.

Alvarez put it away for her first collegiate goal.  

“I've wanted to play on this field and alongside players like this for my entire life,” Alvarez said. “To be able to put on this jersey and score a goal alongside players like this, it just means a lot to me.” 

Alvarez reclassified and graduated high school a year early. At only 17 years old, Nahas described Alvarez as a "baby." But 13 games into the season, her confidence is only continuing to rise. It's starting to show on the field. 

“A young player coming here playing [in the] ACC, it's a challenge,” Nahas said. “She has embraced it and we're going to need her to be great for the rest of the season.”

Alongside Alvarez, starting graduate midfielder Aria Nagai also scored her first goal for the Tar Heels.

Nagai played for Princeton from 2020-23 and scored twice for the Tigers. Although she has played the full 90 minutes eight times this season, she has been unsuccessful at finding the back of the net. 

Before Thursday's match, Nagai went to Nahas' office and asked how she could put herself in a better position to score. The graduate has always taken on the unseen work, but Nagai wanted to break open the floodgates. 

“We had a quick talk, and then all of a sudden, just ironically, she scores a goal today,” Nahas said. “So we're going to talk once a day, from now on, to make sure that that happens.” 

Although the Tar Heels were already up four goals, the loudest cheer from the bench came in the 84th minute. 

After drawing a foul in the box, senior captain defender and midfielder Asha Means headed to the penalty spot. 

“I was honestly terrified, because my sophomore year, I walked up to the spot, and I missed the PK,” Means said. 

She didn’t miss this time.

After four seasons with the Tar Heels, Means finally scored her first collegiate goal. 

Running to the corner of the field she was greeted by the hugs and cheers of all her teammates. 

“It was the best feeling ever,” Means said. 

Means grew up a North Carolina fan and as a young kid attended many women’s soccer games. When she first arrived at UNC, she made a checklist of things she wanted to accomplish personally.

Becoming a captain. Notching assists. Scoring a goal.

“Now I'm like, 'Ball it up and throw [the checklist] in the trash,'” Means said. “There's a whole new set of goals. Now we have our sights set on winning the ACC regular championship, ACC ring and the national championship.”

As the season progresses and with new game changers making a breakthrough at every turn, the Tar Heels are inching closer to accomplishing the new items on the team's checklist. 

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