Tar Heels Rally Past Hurricanes 3-2 In Regular-Season Finale

Thursday, October 31

Coral Gables, Fla.

7:30 p.m.

North Carolina

16-1-1, 9-0-1

Miami

5-9-2, 2-7-1

North Carolina

Miami (FL)

Brianna Pinto notched the game-winner with six minutes to play as UNC rallied past Miami.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

October 31, 2019 | Women's Soccer

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Pinto scores game-winner with six minutes to play.

By: Dave Lohse

CORAL GABLES, FLA. – Brianna Pinto scored her team-leading 10^th goal of the season with 6:07 to play to lift the third-ranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels to a 3-2 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in women's soccer action at Cobb Stadium. It was the regular-season finale for both teams.

Carolina finished the regular season 16-1-1 overall and 9-0-1 in the ACC as the Tar Heels posted their third straight conference regular season without a loss. UNC was 8-0-2 in the ACC in 2017, 10-0 in 2018 and 9-0-1 in 2019. Miami saw its season finish with a mark of 5-9-2 overall and 2-7-1 in ACC play.

Carolina conceded goals in ACC play for only the second time this season and Miami scored late in the first half and early in the second half to take a 2-1 lead in the game. But Zoe Redei tied the game with 28:40 to play and Pinto eventually provided the game-winner late in regulation.

UNC will host an ACC Tournament quarterfinal match on Sunday at Dorrance Field against Notre Dame at 7 p.m. The conference office will release the complete tournament bracket later this evening. Sunday's match will be telecast nationally on the ACC Network and tickets for the match are now on sale at the GoHeels.com Ticket Center.

Carolina outshot the Hurricanes 21-3 in Thursday night's match but two of Miami's three shots were on goal and both of those efforts found the back of the net. But eventually Carolina's statistical advantage wore down the Hurricanes and UNC was able to come-from-behind for the third time this year for a victory. Carolina had a come-from-behind triumph 3-2 at Washington on August 29 and also rallied for a 3-1 win at Pittsburgh on October 13.

In addition to its shot advantage, the Tar Heels had a 13-1 edge in corner kicks. Ten of Carolina's 21 shots were on frame and Miami put two of its three on frame. Marz Josephson went all 90 minutes in goal for Carolina and she allowed both goals. Tyler Speaks went all 90 minutes for the Hurricanes in goal and she made seven saves in the match while allowing three goals.

The Tar Heels took a 1-0 lead at 18:24 of the match as Rachel Jones tallied her third goal of the season off the third assist of the season by Isabel Cox. After the Hurricanes turned the ball over on the end line as Alessia Russo blocked a clearance, Cox claimed the ball, took a couple of dribbles and centered it back to Jones at the top of the 18-yard box. Jones one-timed her shot on a rope into the upper right side for a 1-0 lead.

Miami got the equalizer with 3:08 left in the first half with Tia Dupont finishing from inside the box on the right side across the frame and into the left side netting. The goal was assisted by Sierra Frey. It did not take long for Miami to gain a 2-1 advantage as it struck just 1:18 into the second half. Michelle Giamportone headed home a shot from inside the six-yard box into the lower right part of the frame with assists going to Maria Jakobsdottir and Bayleigh Chaviers.

Just 43 seconds after the Tar Heels made multiple subs in the second half, two of the newly inserted players combined to tie the score. Ru Mucherera sent a long throw in from the left side of the pitch into the box where Zoe Redei was positioned with her back to goal at the near post. She took the ball in on the bounce, pivoted and finished from close range with her left foot into the top of the netting. It was Redei's third goal of the season and she now has goals in back-to-back games. Mucherera's assist was her sixth of the season and she is now tied for the team lead in assists with Lois Joel.

Carolina got the game-winner with 6:07 to play off the left foot of Brianna Pinto, her team-leading 10^th goal of the season. After receiving a pass from Alessia Russo, Rachel Jones dribbled the ball to the end line and her centering pass was advantageously blocked by a Miami defender. The ball spurted out directly to Pinto who was unmarked about eight yards out in the center of the box. Pinto deftly slotted the ball into the lower right corner of the goal for the game-winning tally.

GAME NOTES
• Carolina now has won 10 matches in a row against Miami. The Tar Heels are 15-2 all-time against the Hurricanes and they have won five matches in a row against Miami in Coral Gables. UNC went the decade of the 2010s with a 10-0 mark against the Hurricanes.
• UNC is now 30-0-3 in its last 33 regular-season ACC matches since losing 1-0 at Notre Dame on October 14, 2016.
• Carolina had not allowed a goal in ACC play since the first half of the Pitt game on October 13.
• The last time UNC had allowed more than one goal in an ACC regular season game was October 8, 2015 in a 2-1 overtime loss at Louisville. The last time Carolina allowed more than one goal in regulation time in an ACC regular-season game was October 3, 2014 in a 3-2 win over Virginia Tech at Fetzer Field.
• Zoe Redei's tying goal was her third goal of the season and her 12^th career goal. She has tallied goals in back-to-back games.
• Ru Mucherera recorded her sixth career assist. She is tied for the team lead in assists with Lois Joel. Mucherera had four assists combined in her first three seasons combined.
• Brianna Pinto notched her 10^th goal of the season. She leads the Tar Heels in goals scored as well as in points with 23.