University of North Carolina Athletics
GoHeels Exclusive: Dorwart’s Late-Season Surge Timely For Tar Heels
November 17, 2018 | Women's Soccer, Featured Writers
Tar Heel forward has scored four times in November
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
It didn't take long for Rachael Dorwart to make a strong impression in her first season on the North Carolina women's soccer team.
An early enrollee, she gained Anson Dorrance's attention with her intensity in spring practices. She then carried that into preseason camp. And starting in UNC's season opener against Illinois on Aug. 16, she scored her first career goal, prompting Dorrance to compare her goal scoring hunger to that of Mia Hamm, Lindsay Tarpley and Robin Confer.
For the next two months, though, Dorwart's opportunities to display that trait were limited. She started five more games. But because of defensive struggles, her playing time decreased, and she entered November without a goal over her previous 18 matches.
Still, she kept training hard. She knew she could help when postseason play arrived. And her performance Friday against Kansas provided further evidence of that.
Behind Dorwart's two goals, the third-ranked Tar Heels defeated the Jayhawks 4-1 in the NCAA Tournament second round. The multi-goal performance marked the first of her career. It also gave her four goals in as many games this month.
"I knew with Alessia (Russo) being hurt someone had to step up," said Dorwart, referencing Carolina's leading goal scorer, who broke her leg against Wake Forest on Oct. 25. "So, in practices, I've been really working hard to try to get these opportunities for myself in the game. And then once they come, I just try to finish them."
Dorwart's first opportunity came against Clemson on Nov. 2. In a 1-0 win over the Tigers in the ACC Tournament semifinals, her goal in the 65th minute proved to be the difference. It was her first goal in 78 days. But she didn't wait nearly as long for the next one.
Eight days later, Dorwart scored in a 4-0 victory against Howard in the NCAA Tournament first round. She then followed that up with Friday's effort against Kansas.
With UNC already leading 2-0 in the 44th minute, Brianna Pinto sent a through ball to Dorwart, who beat the Jayhawk goalkeeper on a 1-on-1 opportunity for her first goal. Her second came in the 66th minute, when Julia Ashley crossed the ball from right to left into the box. Ru Mucherera knocked it down. But Dorwart corralled it before slipping it past the goalkeeper.
"Every time Rachael is on the field, she makes an impact and she takes every chance that she gets," said Ashley, who notched a career-high three assists Friday. "And she's been very confident out there. Tonight, she really proved it."
And largely because of Dorwart, the Tar Heels' season continues.
They'll face Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. Sunday in an NCAA Tournament third-round match at WakeMed Soccer Park. Carolina has already beaten the Hokies twice this season. Its first victory came in the regular-season meeting in Blacksburg, Va., and the second was in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Cary. UNC won both matches 2-0.
So as the Tar Heels aim to continue their success against the Hokies, Dorwart will also look to maintain her torrid pace.
"She's starting to play the best soccer she's played in college," Dorrance said. "She's a significant player. She's a good player for us this year, she's going to be a better player for us next year and an even better player her junior year. And by the time she's a senior, she's going to be absolutely unstoppable."
