Interim head coach Damon Nahas reflects on UNC women's soccer's progress

CARY — Damon Nahas likes to pace. 

The interim head coach slowly moves from one side to the bench to the other when his team is in transition. He often looks at the ground when he walks. Nahas only stands still when something game-changing is about to happen. 

In the final 10 seconds against Florida State in the ACC championship, he walked to the other side of the bench closest to the scorers table. There was no need to stand still anymore. No play would change the outcome.

When the clock reached zero, FSU rushed the field. The ending the Tar Heels wanted had slipped through the cracks. 

"Just to be able to see those girls potentially raise that trophy is something that I feel they have worked really hard for and would have deserved," Nahas said. "But today wasn't their day."

No. 4-seeded North Carolina fell to No. 3-seeded Florida State, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at WakeMed Soccer Park in the ACC championship. After holding onto a 2-1 lead through the 63rd minute, UNC allowed two goals in the second half — one from a penalty kick. The Tar Heels won the conference title in 2019, but have not hoisted the trophy since, even with championship appearances in 2020, 2022 and now 2024. During each of those games, the Tar Heels lost to FSU. The Seminoles have won the last five consecutive ACC championships. 

As the Goliaths of the conference, the two programs couldn't be more different. One is emerging, while the other one possesses a storied history. FSU has won four national titles, with all of them coming in the last 10 years. UNC has 22 championships, but hasn't earned one since 2012. 

North Carolina has a legacy that the team must prove isn't from days past. The Seminoles are looking to build one. 

But now, UNC looks different.

Four days before the 2024 season, longtime head coach Anson Dorrance retired after 45 seasons, leaving Nahas to lead one of the most successful programs in collegiate athletics. But Dorrance also left him with a brand new team. 

Four first-years, five transfers and two newcomers.

Nahas was left a team that needed to learn to play with one another without the person that made North Carolina women's soccer what it is: Dorrance. 

Still, the Tar Heels only suffered four regular season losses — all against ranked opponents. They have worked to become better after each game. 

"I think the one thing that we've tried to stay true to is every game, every half, win or lose, we are trying to get better, improve and dissect it," Nahas said.

After losing to Duke twice before the postseason, UNC upset the No. 1 Blue Devils, 2-1, to reach the championship again with the help of young players like first-year defender Trinity Armstrong. The defender had a goal line save and scored the go-ahead goal. 

Even in a time of transition for the program, the Tar Heels still found themselves in the ACC championship game once again, facing its fellow Goliath. 

North Carolina isn't the same team that took on the Seminoles earlier this season in late October. 

Against the then-No. 17 FSU squad, the Tar Heels sputtered. With the score tied 2-2 at the end of the first half, the Seminoles held UNC scoreless while notching two more of their own en route to a 4-2 win.

"In that first game, I didn't feel like we were back in the game," Nahas said. "We found a way to score two goals, but I never really felt like we were on the edge of winning that game. This was totally different."

The ACC championship game couldn't have been more different.

The Tar Heels attacked from the opening whistle, outshooting the Seminoles 7-4 in the first half. They looked like the team representative of the historic program they play for. 

But Florida State's firepower and experience made the difference.

The Seminoles' starting lineup featured two transfers and seven returners of its national championship team, one of whom — Ran Iwai — has been a member of each of FSU's five-peat ACC title teams. Nine members on the starting squad possess collegiate experience. Florida State also returned its 2023 leading scorer, Jordynn Dudley. This year, she's Florida State's second leading scorer. FSU's current leading scorer, Taylor Huff, made the starting lineup in all 23 games last season. On Sunday, Huff connected on a penalty kick to tie it, 2-2. She won MVP. 

UNC's starters contain five returners and two transfers. Only one returning player logged double-digit starts last season. North Carolina's top scorer, Kate Faasse, didn't start a single game last year. 

After the game, Nahas gathered his team in a circle while Florida State celebrated on the other side of the field. He consoled crying players. Eventually, they moved over to watch the Seminoles award ceremony. 

"This loss hurts a lot more because the performance from this team was remarkable," Nahas said.

From new coaches to a completely different team, Nahas wanted the trophy for his team because of how they have handled it all. He is proud of the heights they have reached and the excellence he saw in the championship. He's ready for what's to come. UNC's future, despite initial uncertainty, is bright. 

"I think this tournament is where I saw the biggest growth in our team and that was something that I am excited about," Nahas said. "And it wasn't just an individual. There [were] so many really good performances, and the belief is there."

@_emmahmoon

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com