University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Time To Get Down To Business
October 1, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Featured Writers
Winning championships tops the three-month agenda
By Dave Lohse
Associate Athletic Communications Director
Most of the hubbub is now behind us. The first six weeks of the Tar Heels' women's soccer season has been nothing short of a whirlwind. We all have been busy living through history.
The excitement level has been through the roof. First game in the new stadium versus Indiana, check that one off. Massive alumni celebration and packed crowd for the opening weekend Sunday night victory versus Duke, check that one off. Hugely successful cancer research fundraiser for UNC Lineberger, check that one off. Dedicate Dorrance Field before another huge crowd, check that one off.
The Tar Heels have persevered on the field through all these many events, not distractions, but once-in-a-lifetime events to have a tremendous start to the season. Carolina navigated a non-conference schedule which included matches against Duke and Wake Forest with a 7-1 record. The only blemish on the record was a 2-0 loss in the last game of the non-league schedule at Arkansas. Before a national TV audience on ESPNU the Razorbacks were well prepared and lay in wait for a Tar Heel team which had just played extremely well in a win over Wake Forest and was ready to embark on official ACC play against Louisville six days later.
Arkansas deserved to win the game. It was a classic trap game but that in no way should diminish what the Southeastern Conference side accomplished.
Carolina bounced back from that loss well and it is now well positioned for an October sprint into the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
After weathering an early storm from Louisville where the Cardinals were well positioned to take an early lead, UNC pounced on the missed opportunities by U of L to score the game-winner two minutes later. The Tar Heels were then brilliant in the second half to claim the 3-0 road win. Five days later NC State visited Chapel Hill and Anson Dorrance was very pleased with Carolina's play. The Tar Heels did not allow a shot on goal by the Wolfpack and although the final score line was only 1-0 it got the job done. Check mark 2-0 in the ACC. Three days later, the Tar Heels were more workmanlike in eventually wearing down a Notre Dame team which to its credit matched Carolina substitution for substitution in 95 degree withering heat at Dorrance Field. Season long off-the-bench spark Ru Muchurera set up the first goal by Bridgette Andrzejewski midway through the first half. Brianna Pinto scored a world class goal with a brilliant heel flick in the second half to provide separation. Lotte Wubben-Moy converted a penalty and the Tar Heels officially ended a wonderful dedication day by posting a 3-0 win.
Task ahead for the Tar Heels is now to go out and win championships – ACC regular season, ACC Tournament, NCAA Tournament. This team is certainly as good as any team in the country. At this point in the season, there does not seem to be any dominant team as Stanford appeared to be for most of last year's regular season. The Tar Heels are currently healthy and they are deep. Between now and the end of the season it's likely the Heels will have to deal with injuries from time to time. But Carolina is also 20 plus players deep and the freshman class and transfer Lois Joel have helped transform this squad into a dangerous unit that will require the best of every opponent it faces.
The rest of the schedule is daunting. Carolina can certainly not sleep on Clemson this Saturday. The Tigers are a very dangerous side and are currently ranked eighth. UNC's games with Clemson are always tight and expect that kind of contest Saturday at 5 p.m. at Dorrance Field.
UNC will then close out with four road games – Duke, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Miami – and a pair of extremely challenging home games in the likes of Florida State and Virginia Tech.
If you were going to have to give the Tar Heels a grade so far an A- might be appropriate given the loss at Arkansas but I still think there is so much more for this team ahead. And I use more in the most positive sense of the word.
If the Tar Heels' defense remains as rock solid as it has been (it was minus two starters versus Washington when it surrendered two goals and one starter versus Arkansas when it conceded two goals) there certainly are enough offensive weapons for Carolina to be dangerous for 90 minutes. But in the modern era, no opponent can be taken lightly. It's time to get down to the business of doing what Carolina does best – winning championships.
Associate Athletic Communications Director
Most of the hubbub is now behind us. The first six weeks of the Tar Heels' women's soccer season has been nothing short of a whirlwind. We all have been busy living through history.
The excitement level has been through the roof. First game in the new stadium versus Indiana, check that one off. Massive alumni celebration and packed crowd for the opening weekend Sunday night victory versus Duke, check that one off. Hugely successful cancer research fundraiser for UNC Lineberger, check that one off. Dedicate Dorrance Field before another huge crowd, check that one off.
The Tar Heels have persevered on the field through all these many events, not distractions, but once-in-a-lifetime events to have a tremendous start to the season. Carolina navigated a non-conference schedule which included matches against Duke and Wake Forest with a 7-1 record. The only blemish on the record was a 2-0 loss in the last game of the non-league schedule at Arkansas. Before a national TV audience on ESPNU the Razorbacks were well prepared and lay in wait for a Tar Heel team which had just played extremely well in a win over Wake Forest and was ready to embark on official ACC play against Louisville six days later.
Arkansas deserved to win the game. It was a classic trap game but that in no way should diminish what the Southeastern Conference side accomplished.
Carolina bounced back from that loss well and it is now well positioned for an October sprint into the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
After weathering an early storm from Louisville where the Cardinals were well positioned to take an early lead, UNC pounced on the missed opportunities by U of L to score the game-winner two minutes later. The Tar Heels were then brilliant in the second half to claim the 3-0 road win. Five days later NC State visited Chapel Hill and Anson Dorrance was very pleased with Carolina's play. The Tar Heels did not allow a shot on goal by the Wolfpack and although the final score line was only 1-0 it got the job done. Check mark 2-0 in the ACC. Three days later, the Tar Heels were more workmanlike in eventually wearing down a Notre Dame team which to its credit matched Carolina substitution for substitution in 95 degree withering heat at Dorrance Field. Season long off-the-bench spark Ru Muchurera set up the first goal by Bridgette Andrzejewski midway through the first half. Brianna Pinto scored a world class goal with a brilliant heel flick in the second half to provide separation. Lotte Wubben-Moy converted a penalty and the Tar Heels officially ended a wonderful dedication day by posting a 3-0 win.
Task ahead for the Tar Heels is now to go out and win championships – ACC regular season, ACC Tournament, NCAA Tournament. This team is certainly as good as any team in the country. At this point in the season, there does not seem to be any dominant team as Stanford appeared to be for most of last year's regular season. The Tar Heels are currently healthy and they are deep. Between now and the end of the season it's likely the Heels will have to deal with injuries from time to time. But Carolina is also 20 plus players deep and the freshman class and transfer Lois Joel have helped transform this squad into a dangerous unit that will require the best of every opponent it faces.
The rest of the schedule is daunting. Carolina can certainly not sleep on Clemson this Saturday. The Tigers are a very dangerous side and are currently ranked eighth. UNC's games with Clemson are always tight and expect that kind of contest Saturday at 5 p.m. at Dorrance Field.
UNC will then close out with four road games – Duke, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Miami – and a pair of extremely challenging home games in the likes of Florida State and Virginia Tech.
If you were going to have to give the Tar Heels a grade so far an A- might be appropriate given the loss at Arkansas but I still think there is so much more for this team ahead. And I use more in the most positive sense of the word.
If the Tar Heels' defense remains as rock solid as it has been (it was minus two starters versus Washington when it surrendered two goals and one starter versus Arkansas when it conceded two goals) there certainly are enough offensive weapons for Carolina to be dangerous for 90 minutes. But in the modern era, no opponent can be taken lightly. It's time to get down to the business of doing what Carolina does best – winning championships.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
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