University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Liberty
Second Half Surge Douses Flames In NCAA First Round
November 14, 2015 | Women's Soccer
Playing with a depleted roster, the Tar Heels struggled in the first half putting shots on frame, but 10 of their 14 second shots were on target and Jessie Scarpa, Megan Buckingham and Alexa Newfield found the back of the net. The Tar Heels will now meet Texas A&M in the NCAA second round next Friday. The Aggies, 2014 NCAA semifinalists, defeated Washington 2-1 Friday night in College Station, Texas.
The Tar Heels improved to 15-4-1 with the victory while Liberty saw its season end with a record of 13-8-1.
Carolina had eight first half shots but none were on frame while the Tar Heel defense took care of business in the first half, limiting the Big South Conference champion Flames to a single shot.
Coming out of halftime, the Tar Heels were clearly a more determined side. They struck for the game-winner less than two minutes into the half. Earning a second straight corner kick, Alexa Newfield sent the ball to the near post where Jessie Scarpa headed it across the frame and into the back of the netting for a 1-0 Tar Heel lead. It was Scarpa's eighth goal of the campaign.
In the 52nd minute, the Tar Heels almost made it 2-0 but Liberty goalkeeper Holly Van Noord made a brilliant reaction save on a one-timer by Newfield, knocking it over the end line for a corner kick.
Carolina upped its lead to 2-0 in the 62nd minute on Megan Buckingham's second goal of the season. Scarpa sent a ball from deep in the right corner that was dummied by Katie Bowen. Buckingham ran onto the ball and buried a shot from 18 yards into the upper right of the frame. Buckingham was starting for only the second time this season but her services were needed after Carolina had lost four starting midfielders to ACL injuries in the past five weeks.
Carolina added an insurance goal in the 84th minute as Alexa Newfield scored into an empty net from six yards off a brilliant passing combination by the Tar Heels. Alex Kimball gave a ball to Buckingham in the far corner on the right side and her cross found Newfield in stride on the far post for the putaway.
North Carolina outshot the Flames 22-3, including 10-1 in shots on goal. UNC also had an 8-3 edge in corner kicks. Holly Van Noord play the whole game in goal for Liberty, making seven saves. Bryane Heaberlin and Lindsey Harris combined on the clean sheet for the Tar Heels with Harris making the only save for UNC.
Carolina will head to the second round fighting the injury bug. Starting midfielders Dorian Bailey and Darcy McFarlane were lost for the season to ACL injuries against Louisville and Florida State in October. UNC then lost starting midfielders Joanna Boyles and Cameron Castleberry to ACL injuries in practice this past week.
Forward Summer Green, defender Maya Worth and midfielder Abby Elinsky are also nursing injuries and are on day-to-day status with hopes of playing in the second round in a week.
