Tar Heels Strike Early To Roll By Pitt 3-0

Thursday, September 20

Cary, N.C. (WakeMed Soccer Park)

6 p.m.

North Carolina

7-2-1,ACC 2-0

Pittsburgh

4-4-1,ACC 0-2

Pittsburgh

North Carolina

Emily Fox notched a pair of assists in UNC's 3-0 victory over Pittsburgh.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 20, 2018 | Women's Soccer

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Bailey and Fox each record two assists in Tar Heel triumph

By: Dave Lohse

CARY, N.C. – The fifth-ranked University of North Carolina women's soccer team scored a pair of goals in the opening 22 minutes of the game and went on to roll past the Pittsburgh Panthers 3-0 Thursday night before a crowd of 310 fans at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The game was moved to Cary after the Tar Heels' 2018 home at Finley Fields South was under significant flood water early in the week in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

Sophomore striker Alessia Russo scored her first goal of the season, a game-winner, and also added an assist in the Tar Heel triumph as Carolina improved to 7-2-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC. Sophomore defender Emily Fox and senior midfielder Dorian Bailey each had two assists in the victory and junior forward Bridgette Andrzejewski and freshman midfielder Brianna Pinto each scored goals for the Tar Heels.

UNC finished with a 24-1 edge in shots against the Panthers, who fell to 4-4-1 overall and 0-2 in the ACC. UNC had all three corner kicks in the game. Both teams played two goalkeepers. Claudia Dickey made her first career start for the Tar Heels, making one save, and Samantha Leshnak played the second half, combining with Dickey on the shutout. Twelve of UNC's 24 shots were on frame. Amaia Pena played the first half in goal for Pitt and made four saves while allowing two goals. Katherine Robinson played the second half for the Panthers and made five saves while allowing Carolina's third goal.

The Tar Heels opened the scoring at the 16:36 mark of the game as Russo tallied her first goal of the season. Dorian Bailey sent a ball from the end line on the left side of the pitch into the middle of the box where the English youth international player tapped in the cross from close range to put Carolina ahead.

It took the Tar Heels just a little over five minutes to double their lead. The goal came on a header by Bridgette Andrzejewski, her second tally of the season, at the 21:53 mark. Bailey again served the primary assist from the left side of the pitch after taking a brilliant through ball from Emily Fox.

UNC went on to outshoot the Panthers by a 12-1 margin in the first half but Pena made a couple of key stops to keep the Tar Heels from extending their lead.

In the 52^nd minute of the game, the Tar Heels got the insurance goal they needed for separation. Brianna Pinto tallied her third goal of the season at 51:50 with a finish from the top of the 18-yard penalty box after a series of nifty passes set her up. Both Fox and Russo were credited with assists on the goal.

Carolina kept firing away at the Panthers' goal, but five second-half saves by Robinson kept the final score at 3-0.

Altogether, UNC head coach Anson Dorrance played a deep bench and had 22 players overall on the pitch. Twenty-one of the 22 Tar Heels who played in the game logged 18 or more minutes.

Carolina will next be in action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at Clemson at Historic Riggs Field. It will be a battle to remain atop the ACC standings as both the Tar Heels and the Tigers go into the game at 2-0 in the ACC. The Tigers will be playing their third straight conference home game after springing a 1-0 double overtime upset on fourth-ranked Virginia Thursday night. In their previous game the Tigers had beaten Miami 2-1 in overtime. Sunday's game will be televised nationally on ACC Network Extra.

UNC improved to 4-0 all-time against Pittsburgh with the win on Thursday. Three of Carolina's all-time wins against the Panthers have come via shutout.