Three Tar Heels Named All-America By United Soccer Coaches

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- Three members of the University of North Carolina's College Cup Bound women's soccer team were named Thursday to the All-America Teams named by United Soccer Coaches, formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Sophomore forward Alessia Russo of Kent, England was named to the first-team squad while senior defender Julia Ashley (Verona, N.J.) and sophomore midfielder Taylor Otto (Apex, N.C.) were named to the third team.

Russo is the first Tar Heel named to the first-team All-America Team since Crystal Dunn in 2013.

All three players were named earlier this week to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Team first-team squad.

Russo played in 14 games this year and was Carolina's leading scorer before breaking her right leg against Wake Forest on October 25. She started 13 games, scoring six goals and adding four assists. She totaled 16 points and leads UNC in game-winning goals with four.

Ashley is a four-year starter at right back. She started all 25 games this season and leads UNC in minutes played with 2,206. She shares Carolina's lead in points with 20 and is the Tar Heel leader in assists with 10. She is tied for third on the team in goals with five.

Otto is a two-year starter for Carolina, just like Russo. She has started 25 games and scored five goals, tied for third on the team, and passed for six assists, third on the squad. Her 16 points are tied for third on the team with Russo. She ranks fourth on the team in minutes played with 1,875, tops amongst non-defenders.

Players Mentioned

Julia Ashley

Taylor Otto

Alessia Russo

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