University of North Carolina Athletics
Best Games Of 2014-15: No. 25-No. 21
July 1, 2015 | Softball, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Wrestling, Swimming & Diving
Once again this July, GoHeels.com will count down the top 25 wins of the school year. Check back around noon EDT each weekday for the latest update before the No. 1 win is revealed on July 17.
The 2014-15 school year for Carolina Athletics featured a depth of success that compares favorably to some of the most outstanding campaigns in school history. UNC finished fifth in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings, giving the Tar Heels the best finish among ACC departments for the 16th time in the competition's 22 years. Choosing just 25 moments to honor (with each program limited to a maximum of two entries) was extremely difficult, and a number of worthy candidates were excluded.
The countdown begins today with thrilling regular season wins from women's soccer, women's lacrosse, softball, wrestling and swimming and diving.
No. 25: Tar Heels Sweep Virginia in Charlottesville - Swimming and Diving, Jan. 24, 2015
Carolina-Virginia is an old, bitter rivalry at any venue, and in the pool is no exception. The 2014-15 Tar Heels snapped a pair of long losing streaks against the Wahoos in impressive fashion. The men, who hadn't won in Charlottesville since 1997, hammered Virginia, 192-106, behind a pair of individual wins from Sam Lewis. The women, who were winless against the Cavaliers since 2007, got a diving sweep from Michole Timm to upset sixth-ranked UVa, 156.5-143.5.
No. 24: Carolina 17, No. 12 Virginia 16 - Wrestling, Feb. 7, 2015
Senior Frank Abbondanza spent most of his Carolina wrestling career bouncing around weight classes, often competing at a significant disadvantage against larger opponents in the heavyweight class. But the sacrifice for his team paid off in a big way in his final competition at Carmichael Arena, as Abbondanza beat Virginia's Pat Gillen by a 5-2 decision to give UNC a 17-16 victory over the 12th-ranked Cavs. Ethan Ramos upset No. 2 Nick Sulzer at 165 pounds as the Tar Heels beat UVa for the first time in six years.
No. 23: Carolina 15, No. 9 Georgia 9 - Softball, April 2, 2015
The powerful Tar Heels stepped out of conference for a rare late-season ACC-SEC showdown and spanked the ninth-ranked Bulldogs in Athens, 15-9. Lauren Walker went 3 for 5 with a homer and four RBIs to lead a Carolina offense that pounded out 18 hits and scored in six of seven innings. After a four-run first for UNC, Georgia answered with seven in the bottom of the second. But the Tar Heels continued to tee off on a trio of Bulldog pitchers and left with a signature non-conference win.
No. 22: No. 2 Carolina 12, No. 3 Duke 6 - Women's Lacrosse, April 17, 2015
Carolina wrapped up its second outright ACC regular season title in four years by throttling No. 3 Duke, 12-6, in Durham. Aly Messinger and Sammy Jo Tracy had matching hat tricks for the Tar Heels, who scored five straight goals in the first half before running away with the win in the second 30 minutes. The win also handed the Blue Devils their first home loss of 2015, snapping a seven-game winning streak.
No. 21: No. 14 Carolina 1, No. 7 Penn State 0 (2 OT) - Women's Soccer, Sept. 9, 2014
UNC stumbled out of the 2014 gate to the tune of a 1-2-1 start that included a heartbreaking overtime loss to Stanford and a scoreless draw at UCLA. But Amber Munerlyn's game-winner in the 103rd minute from a Joanna Boyles assist gave Carolina a 1-0 win over No. 7 Penn State and catapulted the Tar Heels to a 12-match unbeaten run that spanned the remainder of the regular season and led to a share of the ACC regular season title.
