Tar Heels Down Howard In NCAA First Round

Saturday, November 10

Cary, N.C. (WakeMed Soccer Park)

1 p.m.

North Carolina

Howard

Bridgette Anddrzejewski buries her second goal of the game.

November 10, 2018 | Women's Soccer

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Andrzejewski records brace in UNC victory over Bison.

By: Dave Lohse

CARY, N.C. – Bridgette Andrzejewski came off the bench to score a pair of goals and Julia Ashley had a goal and an assist as third-ranked North Carolina defeated Howard 4-0 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament Saturday afternoon at WakeMed Soccer Park.

A crowd of 617 fans was on hand at Koka Booth Stadium to see the Tar Heels improve to 18-3-1 on the season while Howard finished its campaign at 12-7-2. UNC will play host to Kansas next Friday in the NCAA Tournament second round at Koka Booth Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park at a time yet to be determined.

The 18 wins by Carolina this year are the most since Carolina recorded 20 victories in 2013.

Bridgette Andrzejewski had the sixth brace of her career in leading the Tar Heels to victory and her first two-goal game since she tallied twice in a 4-1 win at Boston College on October 14, 2017. Julia Ashley and Rachael Dorwart had the other Carolina goals Saturday and five different Tar Heels had assists, including a pair by Brianna Pinto.

UNC outshot the Bison 26-1 in the game, including an edge of 11-0 in shots on goal. The Tar Heels had eight corner kicks in comparison to zero for the Bison. Both teams played two goalkeepers. Samantha Leshnak played the first half for Carolina and Claudia Dickey played the second 45 minutes. Alayah Hightower played 82:29 in goal for Howard, making six saves and allowing four goals. Mackenzie Diotte played the final 7:31 in goal for the Bison, making one save.

The Tar Heels took the lead in the 17^th minute as Julia Ashley scored the game-winning goal, directing a shot from 22 yards out in the center of the pitch into the upper right corner of the frame. It was her fourth goal of her senior season.

UNC doubled its lead in the 35^th minute on the first of two goals by Andrzejewski. Morgan Goff sent a ball down the left sideline that Brianna Pinto gathered in. Pinto sent a perfect cross from the left corner to the far post where Andrzejewski volleyed the ball home for her fourth goal of the season.

North Carolina extended its lead to 3-0 at 44:04. Lotte Wubben-Moy's corner kick from the left side was headed by Julia Ashley toward the left post where Andrzejewski was Johnny-on-the spot to redirect home her second goal of the game. The goal came just 8:50 after she had doubled the Tar Heel lead and it was her fifth tally of the campaign.

North Carolina finished off the scoring at 72:53 when freshman Rachael Dorwart got behind the Bison defense and poked the ball past Hightower and into the lower right part of the frame. Three UNC freshmen combined to produce the goal as Brianna Pinto sent a ball forward from midfield to Rachel Jones who then threaded a pass through the Bison defense for the finish from Dorwart.

Carolina played all 22 players dressed for the game with every player seeing at least 12 minutes of action.

UNC will play host to an NCAA second round doubleheader next Friday at WakeMed Soccer Park's Koka Booth Stadium. Arkansas and Virginia Tech will play in one game and North Carolina and Kansas in the other contest. The winners will play in the NCAA Tournament third round on Sunday, November 18 at 1 p.m.