University of North Carolina Athletics
Dorian Bailey
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Bailey Paying Dividends For Women's Soccer & Olympic Sports Notes
September 22, 2017 | General, Featured Writers
by Pat James
Dorian Bailey might come off the bench for the North Carolina women's soccer team. But as the primary fill-in for Joanna Boyles, Bailey's role mirrors a starter's.
With Boyles coming off two ACL tears that sidelined her for nearly two years, Anson Dorrance said he doesn't play her 90 minutes each match, with hopes of avoiding another injury. So he turns to Bailey.
Each match, Bailey comes in at about the 15-minute mark. She plays forward, a position she said she never played at UNC before this season, and then moves to the attacking center mid spot when Boyles exits the game about 15 minutes later.
The strategy has paid dividends for the Tar Heels this season. But no more so than in their first two games of Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Four days removed from scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win at Florida State, Bailey registered another in No. 8 UNC's 1-0 victory over No. 19 Clemson on Thursday at WakeMed Soccer Park.
"She's so adaptable and such a great player," said Samantha Leshnak, who tallied two saves. "It was huge of her to come up. I don't expect anything else of her."
Bailey's goal Thursday came in the 77th minute, when Madison Schultz fired a shot off the crossbar. The ball bounced toward Bailey, who headed it into the back of the net.
"We're always told to just follow the ball," Bailey said. "You never know what's going to happen – the goalie could drop it or it could hit off the crossbar. I was just following the shot, saw it go up and was like, 'This is it. I have to head it.'"
Bailey said coming off the bench gives her an advantage. She uses that time to learn the opponent's tendencies and where the open space is.
And through eight matches, that extra knowledge has served her well.
Bailey's goal Thursday marked her fourth of the season, which leads the team and matches her total from 2016. She also paces the Tar Heels (6-2, 2-0 ACC) with 11 points.
"She's an absolutely fabulous player, but she also has the temperament to not upset the team when she doesn't start," Dorrance said. "She understands my respect and admiration for her, but also her role on a team that has the potential to be very good."
Hayden ignites offensive outburst
Catherine Hayden opened the scoring for the field hockey team in its 10-0 win over Davidson on Tuesday at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. She also closed it.
In between, Hayden added another goal, helping her notch her first career hat trick after entering the game with two goals on the season.
Seventh-ranked UNC (7-2) ultimately played 22 of 24 players on its roster. Six joined Hayden with at least one goal.
Seniors lead men's soccer
At times this season, the men's soccer team's youth has shown. But in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over George Washington at WakeMed Soccer Park, the No. 7 Tar Heels received a boost from three seniors.
Zach Wright set the tone, dishing out two of his career-high three assists in a span of three minutes, 29 seconds. His first came when he found David October, who handed UNC (7-1) a 1-0 lead when he scored at the 19:27 mark.
Alan Winn also continued his recent hot streak. He scored two goals, giving him five over the past three matches.
Daavettila rebounds
During the first weekend of fall play, No. 4 Sara Daavettila dropped two singles matches at the Hall of Fame ITA Grass Court Invitational. She didn't play a third because of an injury.
It looked as if Daavettila's struggles might continue Thursday, the first day of the Oracle ITA Masters. But after facing match point in the second set against Abilene Christian's Lucile Pothier, Daavettila won the final nine points en route to a three-set victory, 4-6, 7-5, 6-0.
Alle Sanford also won her singles match against Anna Grigoryan of LIU Brooklyn, 6-1, 6-1. Daavettila and Sanford will continue singles play at 2 p.m. Friday, and Sanford will play a mixed doubles quarterfinals match at 1 p.m.
Dorian Bailey might come off the bench for the North Carolina women's soccer team. But as the primary fill-in for Joanna Boyles, Bailey's role mirrors a starter's.
With Boyles coming off two ACL tears that sidelined her for nearly two years, Anson Dorrance said he doesn't play her 90 minutes each match, with hopes of avoiding another injury. So he turns to Bailey.
Each match, Bailey comes in at about the 15-minute mark. She plays forward, a position she said she never played at UNC before this season, and then moves to the attacking center mid spot when Boyles exits the game about 15 minutes later.
The strategy has paid dividends for the Tar Heels this season. But no more so than in their first two games of Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Four days removed from scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win at Florida State, Bailey registered another in No. 8 UNC's 1-0 victory over No. 19 Clemson on Thursday at WakeMed Soccer Park.
"She's so adaptable and such a great player," said Samantha Leshnak, who tallied two saves. "It was huge of her to come up. I don't expect anything else of her."
Bailey's goal Thursday came in the 77th minute, when Madison Schultz fired a shot off the crossbar. The ball bounced toward Bailey, who headed it into the back of the net.
"We're always told to just follow the ball," Bailey said. "You never know what's going to happen – the goalie could drop it or it could hit off the crossbar. I was just following the shot, saw it go up and was like, 'This is it. I have to head it.'"
Bailey said coming off the bench gives her an advantage. She uses that time to learn the opponent's tendencies and where the open space is.
And through eight matches, that extra knowledge has served her well.
Bailey's goal Thursday marked her fourth of the season, which leads the team and matches her total from 2016. She also paces the Tar Heels (6-2, 2-0 ACC) with 11 points.
"She's an absolutely fabulous player, but she also has the temperament to not upset the team when she doesn't start," Dorrance said. "She understands my respect and admiration for her, but also her role on a team that has the potential to be very good."
Hayden ignites offensive outburst
Catherine Hayden opened the scoring for the field hockey team in its 10-0 win over Davidson on Tuesday at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. She also closed it.
In between, Hayden added another goal, helping her notch her first career hat trick after entering the game with two goals on the season.
Seventh-ranked UNC (7-2) ultimately played 22 of 24 players on its roster. Six joined Hayden with at least one goal.
Seniors lead men's soccer
At times this season, the men's soccer team's youth has shown. But in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over George Washington at WakeMed Soccer Park, the No. 7 Tar Heels received a boost from three seniors.
Zach Wright set the tone, dishing out two of his career-high three assists in a span of three minutes, 29 seconds. His first came when he found David October, who handed UNC (7-1) a 1-0 lead when he scored at the 19:27 mark.
Alan Winn also continued his recent hot streak. He scored two goals, giving him five over the past three matches.
Daavettila rebounds
During the first weekend of fall play, No. 4 Sara Daavettila dropped two singles matches at the Hall of Fame ITA Grass Court Invitational. She didn't play a third because of an injury.
It looked as if Daavettila's struggles might continue Thursday, the first day of the Oracle ITA Masters. But after facing match point in the second set against Abilene Christian's Lucile Pothier, Daavettila won the final nine points en route to a three-set victory, 4-6, 7-5, 6-0.
Alle Sanford also won her singles match against Anna Grigoryan of LIU Brooklyn, 6-1, 6-1. Daavettila and Sanford will continue singles play at 2 p.m. Friday, and Sanford will play a mixed doubles quarterfinals match at 1 p.m.
Monday, August 17
Friday, August 14
Friday, August 14
Friday, August 07