Schultz’s Goal Lifts Tar Heels Past Huskies

Thursday, August 29

Seattle, Wash.

10 p.m.

North Carolina

3-0

Washington

0-1-2

North Carolina

Washington

Schultz returned to her home state, scoring the eighth game-winning goal of her career.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

August 29, 2019 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Play by Play Watch Highlights on YouTube

Carolina rallies from halftime deficit to prevail

By: Dave Lohse

SEATTLE, WASH. – Senior Madison Schultz returned to her home state to deliver the winning goal as the second-ranked University of North Carolina women's soccer team rallied past Washington 3-2 Thursday night at Husky Soccer Stadium. A trio of Carolina seniors – Schultz, Ru Mucherera and Bridgette Andrzejewski – scored goals for the Tar Heels in the come-from-behind win as Carolina recorded the 850^th victory in school history.

The Huskies were coming off back-to-back scoreless ties against Portland and Seattle last weekend but they were an inspired side against the nationally-ranked Tar Heels. Washington took the lead at 21:39 as Summer Yates sent a free kick from 20 yards out into the lower right corner past Tar Heel starting goalkeeper Marz Josephson. Carolina equaled the score at 36:29 with Ru Mucherera's first goal of the season and fourth goal of her career. Brianna Pinto launched a shot from distance that appeared headed into the lower left corner of the goal. UW goalkeeper Dani Hansen was able to knock down the shot but Mucherera was all over the rebound, heading it into the upper right side of the frame for the goal to pull the Tar Heels even.

Washington would go on to take the lead before halftime, scoring again off a direct free kick. The initial service into the penalty area was knocked off the crossbar by Josephson but the Tar Heels were unable to clear the ball. Mireya Grey gathered the ball in the box and sent a cross into the center of the pitch where Mary Johnston buried it in the back of the net with a one-touch strike. The goal came just 1:28 before intermission.

UNC outshot the Huskies 6-3 in the first half but it trailed at the half. Washington would outshoot the Tar Heels 6-5 in the second half, but Carolina would notch both second half goals to improve to 3-0 on the season while the Huskies fell to 0-1-2.

Carolina scored off a set piece of its own at 57:25 of the match. Lois Joel, starting her first game for Carolina after transferring from West Virginia, sent a long free kick into the penalty area where Bridgette Andrzejewski found herself with just enough freedom to head the ball into the lower left corner past Hansen.

UNC then notched the game winner at 70:35 with Schultz's first goal of the season. Brianna Pinto chased down a loose ball on the left sideline, winning a 50-50 ball and sending a cross into the box where Mucherera again came up big, directing the ball forward to Schultz on the left side of the box. Schultz finished with a remarkable strike, sending her shot from a difficult angle off the bottom of the crossbar and into the right side netting. Schultz is a native of Edmonds, Wash., 25 miles North of Seattle and she had a strong contingent of hometown fans in the stadium to cheer her on.

At 73:11 of the match, Washington almost got the tying goal from Makena Carr but Claudia Dickey dove to her right and saved it off the goal line at the last instant. She scrambled to her feet and gathered the ball in, keeping the Tar Heels ahead for good. Dickey played the second half of the game and made three saves, earning the victory.

The game was a part of the Husky Invitational and was played in a steady downpour throughout. Portland beat New Mexico 1-0 in the first game Thursday. UNC will play the Pilots Sunday at 11:30 a.m. PDT (2:30 p.m. EDT) with Washington and New Mexico to follow.

GAME NOTES
• The win was the 850^th in school history. UNC is now 850-74-40 in 41 years of women's soccer play.
• Schultz's goal was the 11^th of her career. Amazingly, eight of those 11 tallies have been game-winning goals.
• The comeback win was the first since UNC beat Louisville on September 29, 2018, a 5-1 victory.
• The last time UNC rallied from a halftime deficit to win was on August 18, 2018 against Illinois. UNC trailed that match 1-0 before scoring three second half goals.
• Carolina is now 6-0 all-time against Washington, including 3-0 in games in Seattle.
• Brianna Pinto finished with a pair of assists in the game. Ru Mucherera had a goal and an assist. Lois Joel now has assists in back-to-back games. Bridgette Andrzejewski scored her second goal of the season, matching Pinto's two-goal total on the season.
• Carolina played without starters Emily Fox (USA), Alessia Russo (England) and Lotte Wubben-Moy (England) who are currently playing in the U23 Nordic Tournament in England August 28-September 2.