University of North Carolina Athletics
Jelani Pieters delivered the overtime game-winner at Virginia.
GoHeels Exclusive: Olympic Sports Weekend Roundup
September 25, 2017 | Men's Soccer, Featured Writers
by Pat James
Jelani Pieters came close.
With the seventh-ranked North Carolina men's soccer team tied at 1 with No. 9 Virginia late in Friday's match at Klöckner Stadium, Pieters looked like he might provide the decisive score after Cavaliers goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell made a sprawling save on an Alan Winn header.
The ball bounced directly in front of the goal, and Pieters charged it. He then lifted his left leg to push the ball into the back of the net, but Caldwell, still attempting to stand up following his previous save, somehow blocked the shot.
The scoring chance proved to be UNC's last in regulation. But on its first in overtime, Pieters ensured he converted it.
In the 95th minute, Pieters dribbled around three Virginia defenders before unleashing a strike into the lower right corner of the net for the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over the Cavaliers.
Pieters' goal, his fifth of the season, pushed the Tar Heels' winning streak to six games. It also snapped Virginia's 21-match home unbeaten streak, which began following a loss to American on Oct. 13, 2015.
Field hockey wins overtime tests
For the third time in its past five games, the field hockey team went into overtime during Sunday's meeting with No. 20 Albany. And once again, the seventh-ranked Tar Heels emerged victorious.
After beating then-No. 10 Boston College 2-1 in overtime on Sept. 16 and squeaking past No. 6 Syracuse 3-2 in extra time Saturday, UNC secured a 2-1 win over the Great Danes when Malin Evert scored just 56 seconds into overtime Sunday.
Sunday's victory marked the Tar Heels' fifth in an eight-day span, which included wins over four ranked team and could help prepare the team for the NCAA Tournament.
Bailey provides boost
Eight days into ACC play, the women's soccer team boasts a 3-0 conference record. And in large part, the Tar Heels have Dorian Bailey to thank.
After she scored the lone goals in UNC's 1-0 wins over Florida State on Sept. 17 and Clemson on Thursday, Bailey came off the bench Sunday and tallied another game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory at 11th-ranked Virginia.
No. 8 UNC fell behind 1-0 early Sunday. But in the 24th minute, Alessia Russo tied the game at 1 on her third goal of the season. Just over four minutes later, Bailey scored what proved to be the game-winning goal on a give-and-go with Bridgette Andrzejewski.
The goal marked Bailey's fifth of the season, which leads the team.
Sanford shines
Five times Alle Sanford faced match point during Sunday's title match of the Oracle ITA Masters. But each time, she overcame it.
And because of her resolve, Sanford, the No. 6 seed, ultimately defeated UCLA's Ena Shibahara, the nation's top-ranked player and the No. 1 seed, by a score of 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (11) for her first collegiate title.
Sanford wasn't the only UNC women's tennis player who won a title Sunday. Makenna Jones claimed the Flight 1 Singles championship at the Furman Fall Classic with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 win over Petra Granic of Texas.
Volleyball rebounds for ACC win
For the second time in three days, the volleyball team faced an 0-2 deficit Sunday against Louisville. But after the Tar Heels' comeback fell short in a 3-2 loss at N.C. State on Friday, they pulled through against the Cardinals for their first ACC win.
UNC trailed Louisville 7-3 in the fifth-set tiebreaker. But a stout defensive performance helped the Tar Heels rally to win the set, 15-12, and the match, 3-2 (19-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-12).
Four of UNC's 13 total team blocks came in the fifth set. The Tar Heels also received notable performances from Casey Jacobs, who recorded a career-high 22 digs in her second start at libero, and Greer Moseman, who finished with eight digs in her first match back on the team's
Jelani Pieters came close.
With the seventh-ranked North Carolina men's soccer team tied at 1 with No. 9 Virginia late in Friday's match at Klöckner Stadium, Pieters looked like he might provide the decisive score after Cavaliers goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell made a sprawling save on an Alan Winn header.
The ball bounced directly in front of the goal, and Pieters charged it. He then lifted his left leg to push the ball into the back of the net, but Caldwell, still attempting to stand up following his previous save, somehow blocked the shot.
The scoring chance proved to be UNC's last in regulation. But on its first in overtime, Pieters ensured he converted it.
In the 95th minute, Pieters dribbled around three Virginia defenders before unleashing a strike into the lower right corner of the net for the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over the Cavaliers.
Pieters' goal, his fifth of the season, pushed the Tar Heels' winning streak to six games. It also snapped Virginia's 21-match home unbeaten streak, which began following a loss to American on Oct. 13, 2015.
Field hockey wins overtime tests
For the third time in its past five games, the field hockey team went into overtime during Sunday's meeting with No. 20 Albany. And once again, the seventh-ranked Tar Heels emerged victorious.
After beating then-No. 10 Boston College 2-1 in overtime on Sept. 16 and squeaking past No. 6 Syracuse 3-2 in extra time Saturday, UNC secured a 2-1 win over the Great Danes when Malin Evert scored just 56 seconds into overtime Sunday.
Sunday's victory marked the Tar Heels' fifth in an eight-day span, which included wins over four ranked team and could help prepare the team for the NCAA Tournament.
Bailey provides boost
Eight days into ACC play, the women's soccer team boasts a 3-0 conference record. And in large part, the Tar Heels have Dorian Bailey to thank.
After she scored the lone goals in UNC's 1-0 wins over Florida State on Sept. 17 and Clemson on Thursday, Bailey came off the bench Sunday and tallied another game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory at 11th-ranked Virginia.
No. 8 UNC fell behind 1-0 early Sunday. But in the 24th minute, Alessia Russo tied the game at 1 on her third goal of the season. Just over four minutes later, Bailey scored what proved to be the game-winning goal on a give-and-go with Bridgette Andrzejewski.
The goal marked Bailey's fifth of the season, which leads the team.
Sanford shines
Five times Alle Sanford faced match point during Sunday's title match of the Oracle ITA Masters. But each time, she overcame it.
And because of her resolve, Sanford, the No. 6 seed, ultimately defeated UCLA's Ena Shibahara, the nation's top-ranked player and the No. 1 seed, by a score of 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (11) for her first collegiate title.
Sanford wasn't the only UNC women's tennis player who won a title Sunday. Makenna Jones claimed the Flight 1 Singles championship at the Furman Fall Classic with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 win over Petra Granic of Texas.
Volleyball rebounds for ACC win
For the second time in three days, the volleyball team faced an 0-2 deficit Sunday against Louisville. But after the Tar Heels' comeback fell short in a 3-2 loss at N.C. State on Friday, they pulled through against the Cardinals for their first ACC win.
UNC trailed Louisville 7-3 in the fifth-set tiebreaker. But a stout defensive performance helped the Tar Heels rally to win the set, 15-12, and the match, 3-2 (19-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-12).
Four of UNC's 13 total team blocks came in the fifth set. The Tar Heels also received notable performances from Casey Jacobs, who recorded a career-high 22 digs in her second start at libero, and Greer Moseman, who finished with eight digs in her first match back on the team's
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