University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Clemson
Heath's Hat Trick Powers UNC To Win In ACC Opener
September 25, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 25, 2008
CLEMSON, S.C. - Junior midfielder Tobin Heath scored three goals in a span of less than 26 minutes in the first half, earning her first career hat trick and leading the No. 3-ranked University of North Carolina women's soccer team to a 5-2 victory over Clemson at Historic Riggs Field Thursday night. The game was the ACC opener for both teams as UNC won its conference opener for the 21st time in 22 years of league competition.
North Carolina (8-1-1, ACC 1-0) spotted the Tigers an early goal and then roared back with five goals in a span of just over 40 minutes to turn the game into a blowout. The Tar Heels outshot the Tigers 32-6 and only 11 saves by Clemson goalkeeper Paula Pritzen prevented the Tar Heel margin from being greater at the game's close.
Heath, who entered the match with eight goals in the first two and a half seasons of her Carolina career, recorded the first hat trick by a Tar Heel player since September 20, 2007 when Casey Nogueira scored three goals in a 5-0 win over Ohio State at the Duke adidas Classic.
After Julie Bolt opened the scoring for Clemson at 7:56 of the game, it took the Tar Heels less than 10 minutes to tie the score as Heath scored the first of her three goals at 17:22 of the match. Heath scored twice more before halftime. She tallied at 36:22 off assists by freshman Brittani Bartok and junior Ali Hawkins and then she scored at 43:14 off another assist by Hawkins. The hat trick gives Heath five goals on the campaign.
The Tar Heels extended their lead to four goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half. At 52:54, junior Jessica McDonald scored her second goal of the season off an assist by Casey Nogueira. Brittani Bartok then finished off the scoring for UNC at 57:59 with her third goal of the season. Clemson would add a goal in the 86th minute as Julie Bolt tallied her eighth of the campaign.
UNC has now won 21 of its 22 ACC openers since the league began play in 1987. The lone exception was October 10, 2002 when NC State upset the Tar Heels 2-1 in Cary, N.C.
The five goals were the most UNC has ever scored at Historic Riggs Field. UNC had scored four goals in wins at Clemson on November 10, 1996 (a 4-1 win), on October 26, 1997 (a 4-0 win) and on September 18, 1998 (a 4-2 win).
Carolina was playing its first game without starters Nikki Washington and Meghan Klingenberg who left this week for training with the U20 National Team in advance of the World Championships later this fall.
The Tar Heels return to action on Sunday as they host Maryland (3-4-1, ACC 0-1) at Fetzer Field at 1 p.m. Admission to the match is free.
