'Do it for Kate': Faith in Kate Faasse leads to brace in first round of ACC tournament

Kate Faasse met with Damon Nahas last spring. Uncertainty shrouded the program — 21 players left the team after the 2023 season. Faasse’s future was uncertain. 

She went into Nahas’ office nervous. She wanted reassurance. She got it. 

“I trust him with everything,” Faasse said. “He’s made me a better player this fall. And I give all my credit to him, believing in me and helping me every day get better.”

Nahas’ faith in Faasse created a confidence she didn’t always have.

“She’s had her own ups and downs,” the now-interim head coach said. “Figuring out her confidence and self belief and waiting for her opportunity and what you do with that opportunity. This is not an easy road.”

Belief and opportunity translated to goals in bunches and a breakout season. In No. 4-seeded North Carolina's 2-0 first round ACC tournament victory over No. 5-seeded Virginia Tech, Faasse scored her third brace of the season on Sunday night at Dorrance Field. Her 14 goals — including six match-winners — and 29 points lead the team.

She ranks third in the conference in goals with nine in 11 ACC matches. She surpassed her point total from her first and second years combined after just 10 games this season. Top Drawer Soccer ranked Faasse 10th on its Midseason Top 100 list. 

“It’s really hard to explain,” Nahas said. “I can try and define it, but the kid has a will. I’ve not seen someone that has a mentality like her. I just haven’t. And she just wants to win. She makes her teammates better. I mean, 90 minutes she’s running, and she never looks tired. I just can’t figure it out. She’s like a robot.”

You can't tell when she's on the field now, but during her first two years at UNC Faasse faced internal struggles. 

“I think it’s hard when you’re at the University of North Carolina, surrounded by the best players in the country, to believe in yourself that much,"  she said. "When you’re looking at everyone else, and they can do this better than you, that better than you. But the culture here is so amazing that they push you to be the best version of yourself.”

Faasse spent her first two seasons as a substitute behind talented attackers Ally Sentnor and Avery Patterson. She appeared in 40 matches but started none of them. Opportunities to shine were few. She scored only four goals. 

This season has been completely different. She has started all 19 games and played the full 90 minutes in 11 of them. 

Faasse feels like she can be herself. Nahas and her teammates encourage her to keep going even when she makes a mistake. 

“I think in past years, when we’ve had such big rosters, it’s been hard,” Faasse said. “You gotta go out there, and you gotta make that big-time play to get those minutes. And I think Damon’s done a really good job of taking that off my back and being like, 'Play your game, do your thing,’ and letting me just be me instead of a contained player.”

Faasse responds to her teammates, and they respond to her leadership.

“She gets everyone riled up,” defender Tessa Dellarose said. “She gets everyone excited to do it. Everyone wants to do it. If we’re not going to do it for ourselves, we’re going to do it for Kate. She’s a people person, and you can’t help but love her."

On Sunday, UNC struggled to finish chances for most of the match. In the 67th minute, junior forward Maddie Dahlien drew a penalty. Faasse stepped up and slid the ball past the keeper into the bottom left corner. Cool as you like.

Less than two minutes later, she made a darting run toward the back post. Dellarose played in a curling cross, and Faasse’s glancing header rippled the back of the net. She hugged Dellarose and then ran to the bench for a group hug, jumping up and down in joy.

At the end of his press conference, Nahas called Faasse over and put his arm around her. He had complete belief when Faasse took the ball for her first spot kick of the season.

“She’s put the work in to be prepared,” Nahas said. “I saw her take a deep breath, as I did at the same time. You better breathe, you better breathe. But I had no doubt she was gonna bury it. And so this is more about her. If you guys are good, I’m out.”

Faasse smiled.

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