University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Davidson (Carolina Nike Classic)
O'Reilly's First Career Hat Trick Powers Tar Heels To Triumph
September 2, 2005 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 2, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior striker Heather O'Reilly chalked up her first career hat trick and senior midfielder Kacey White assisted on a trio of goals as the North Carolina women's soccer team whitewashed Davidson 6-0 in the Carolina Nike Classic at Fetzer Field Friday evening. The Tar Heels (No. 2 NSCAA poll/No. 1 Soccer America/No. 1 Soccer Buzz) are now 3-0 on the season while the Wildcats fell to 1-2 as a crowd of 2,211 looked on at UNC's home opener.
O'Reilly, who hails from New Brunswick, N.J., scored all three of her goals in the second half Friday after assisting on Jaime Gilbert's eventual game-winning tally in the 33rd minute of the match. O'Reilly set her collegiate career high with her seven points in the game and her hat trick was her first after eight previous career games in which she scored twice. White, who leads the Tar Heels with six assists this season, had three against the Wildcats. That total marked White's career high for assists in a match. White, an Arlington, Texas native, had two assists in a game on six previous occasions.
Besides the scoring heroics of O'Reilly and White, UNC also got a goal and an assist each from sophomore forward Jaime Gilbert and from senior midfielder Lori Chalupny. Senior defender Kendall Fletcher had her first goal of the season and sophomore defender Ariel Harris recorded her first career assist.
UNC jumped on top in the match at the 32:42 mark when Gilbert headed in a shot from the five-yard line after taking a long cross-field pass from O'Reilly. White also assisted on the tally. O'Reilly sent the pass from the right side and Gilbert headed it home by redirecting it across the goal mouth into the right side past Davidson goalkeeper Bevin English. Despite outshooting the Wildcats 18-0 in the first half, the Tar Heels led only 1-0 at the break.
In the second half, however, UNC was more efficient in its finishing efforts, scoring five goals on 12 shots. O'Reilly was the first to dent the scoreboard in the second half as she flicked a header into the goal using the back side of her head at the 51:32 mark. Gilbert started the play with a pass from the right side and White carried the ball into the penalty area before centering to O'Reilly, who redirected the ball near post despite the fact her momentum was carrying her away from the ball.
The Tar Heels increased their lead to 3-0 in the 69th minute on a goal by Chalupny off an assist by reserve forward Brynn Hardman. The goal, Chalupny's third of the year, started a scoring run where UNC notched four goals in less than 16 minutes. Hardman centered the ball to Chalupny, whose shot hit the inside of the right post and then richoted into the back of the goal off the foot of Davidson's English.
UNC then finished off the scoring with three goals in 8:18. Fletcher scored on a running header at the 76-minute mark off a crossing pass by White. Harris had set up White on the play before White found Fletcher who made a run into the box from the 18-yard line. At 82:31, O'Reilly scored her second goal of the match as she torpedoed a 20-yard strike from just outside the penalty box into the lower right corner. O'Reilly found virtually the exact same spot with a header at the 84:18 mark, this time assisted by Chalupny who crossed from the left wing just inside the sideline.
The Tar Heels had 30 shots in the match while not allowing the Wildcats to take a shot. Davidson's English made seven saves, all in the first half. She allowed the first four goals of the game and was relieved in the 80th minute by Laura Schulenborg.
The Tar Heels will return to play Sunday when they host Yale at 1 p.m. in the Carolina Nike Classic. Duke will play Davidson in the tournament on Sunday after playing Yale Friday night.
