University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Rebecca Lawson
GoHeels Exclusive: A Practically Perfect Weekend
August 28, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Featured Writers
Pomp and circumstance abounded for Tar Heel fans
By Dave Lohse
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Associate Athletic Communications Director
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It exceeded all expectations. Even Anson Dorrance was like a kid in a candy shop after the Tar Heels opened their 2019 season with a pair of wins in the Carolina Nike Classic at the beautiful new Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium on the Tar Heel campus.
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I am labeling it a practically perfect weekend. The only mar on perfection was the nearly two-hour delay in the start of last Thursday's game against Indiana due to thunderstorms. News alert – shockingly there are thunderstorms in the waning hours of the afternoon in late August in Chapel Hill.
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Once that game started, the Tar Heels made quick work of the Hoosiers, scoring twice in the first 19 minutes en route to a 3-0 victory in which the Tar Heel defense allowed only one shot. Brianna Pinto scored a pair of goals in the victory, the second of a world class variety that mere words can't credit adequately.
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That was the table setter for the weekend. The main event was set for Sunday when the Tar Heels hosted arch-rival Duke at 6 p.m. Approximately 30 alumnae were back in town for the event as well as moms and dads from generations of Tar Heels past and present. Halftime would feature the display of all 22 of Carolina's national championship trophies by the alumnae on hand.
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Gates were set to open up at 5 p.m. and there was an eager group of several hundred fans lined up in advance wanting to get into the facility. Then time seemed to stand still as between 5 o'clock and 40 minutes later, fans trickled in. But around 5:40, the wave started. Both ticketing areas and stadium entrances were swamped as Tar Heel fans by the thousands now sought entry to the gorgeous facility, anxious to witness the second-ranked Tar Heels take on the eighth-ranked Duke Blue Devils.
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In the end, the crowd would pass the stated capacity of the facility by a couple of hundred fans. There may have been more fans than that in reality but at one point scanning all the UNC One Cards for the students seemed futile as the lines grew longer and longer near Carmichael Arena. The fans wanted to be in their seats for kickoff and they were.
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Carolina rewarded them with a brilliant effort, especially defensively, from game's start to game's finish. The Tar Heel defense limited one of the best sides in the country to just two shots and one of those came in the final minute of play.
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As is his wont, Dorrance substituted liberally and after dominating the opening half the Tar Heels were rewarded for their use of fresh legs with a timely goal with 13 seconds left before halftime. Junior Lois Joel, a transfer from West Virginia, pushed the ball from just outside the penalty box to the right side where first-year player Hallie Klanke claimed the pass. Klanke, who had entered the match only 36 seconds earlier, sent a looping cross directly to the head of freshman Alexis Strickland. All in a blur, Stickland skied her 5-3 frame, nodded the ball down so it hit the turf at the two-yard line and bounced into the right side netting. Goal Carolina. Thirteen seconds before halftime, the Tar Heels were up 1-0. The freshman from Raleigh also had scored her first game-winning goal against Carolina's biggest traditional rival.
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The fans stuck around until the end – all 4,215 of them. The players celebrated both goals with expected elan, running to embrace the Carolina students sitting just yards away from the action on the grandstand side of the field.
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It was a special night for all of us who love Carolina soccer. As this column was being finished I received an email from Dorrance. It sums up the weekend perfectly.
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"That was one of the greatest days of my life and that crowd, that stadium, that opponent, that result, those alumnae, that halftime show, those video board stories of our history … God take me now, it can never get any better," said Dorrance.
Â
Hey God, please wait a bit on that. There are still conference and national championships to be won and we want Anson there to enjoy them.
Â
Â
Associate Athletic Communications Director
Â
It exceeded all expectations. Even Anson Dorrance was like a kid in a candy shop after the Tar Heels opened their 2019 season with a pair of wins in the Carolina Nike Classic at the beautiful new Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium on the Tar Heel campus.
Â
I am labeling it a practically perfect weekend. The only mar on perfection was the nearly two-hour delay in the start of last Thursday's game against Indiana due to thunderstorms. News alert – shockingly there are thunderstorms in the waning hours of the afternoon in late August in Chapel Hill.
Â
Once that game started, the Tar Heels made quick work of the Hoosiers, scoring twice in the first 19 minutes en route to a 3-0 victory in which the Tar Heel defense allowed only one shot. Brianna Pinto scored a pair of goals in the victory, the second of a world class variety that mere words can't credit adequately.
Â
That was the table setter for the weekend. The main event was set for Sunday when the Tar Heels hosted arch-rival Duke at 6 p.m. Approximately 30 alumnae were back in town for the event as well as moms and dads from generations of Tar Heels past and present. Halftime would feature the display of all 22 of Carolina's national championship trophies by the alumnae on hand.
Â
Gates were set to open up at 5 p.m. and there was an eager group of several hundred fans lined up in advance wanting to get into the facility. Then time seemed to stand still as between 5 o'clock and 40 minutes later, fans trickled in. But around 5:40, the wave started. Both ticketing areas and stadium entrances were swamped as Tar Heel fans by the thousands now sought entry to the gorgeous facility, anxious to witness the second-ranked Tar Heels take on the eighth-ranked Duke Blue Devils.
Â
In the end, the crowd would pass the stated capacity of the facility by a couple of hundred fans. There may have been more fans than that in reality but at one point scanning all the UNC One Cards for the students seemed futile as the lines grew longer and longer near Carmichael Arena. The fans wanted to be in their seats for kickoff and they were.
Â
Carolina rewarded them with a brilliant effort, especially defensively, from game's start to game's finish. The Tar Heel defense limited one of the best sides in the country to just two shots and one of those came in the final minute of play.
Â
As is his wont, Dorrance substituted liberally and after dominating the opening half the Tar Heels were rewarded for their use of fresh legs with a timely goal with 13 seconds left before halftime. Junior Lois Joel, a transfer from West Virginia, pushed the ball from just outside the penalty box to the right side where first-year player Hallie Klanke claimed the pass. Klanke, who had entered the match only 36 seconds earlier, sent a looping cross directly to the head of freshman Alexis Strickland. All in a blur, Stickland skied her 5-3 frame, nodded the ball down so it hit the turf at the two-yard line and bounced into the right side netting. Goal Carolina. Thirteen seconds before halftime, the Tar Heels were up 1-0. The freshman from Raleigh also had scored her first game-winning goal against Carolina's biggest traditional rival.
Â
The fans stuck around until the end – all 4,215 of them. The players celebrated both goals with expected elan, running to embrace the Carolina students sitting just yards away from the action on the grandstand side of the field.
Â
It was a special night for all of us who love Carolina soccer. As this column was being finished I received an email from Dorrance. It sums up the weekend perfectly.
Â
"That was one of the greatest days of my life and that crowd, that stadium, that opponent, that result, those alumnae, that halftime show, those video board stories of our history … God take me now, it can never get any better," said Dorrance.
Â
Hey God, please wait a bit on that. There are still conference and national championships to be won and we want Anson there to enjoy them.
Â
Players Mentioned
Defender/Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
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