Tar Heels Complete Seattle Tournament With 2-0 Record

Sunday, September 1

Seattle, Wash.

2:30 p.m.

North Carolina

4-0

Portland

1-1-1

Portland

North Carolina

Brianna Pinto was named the Husky Invitational most valuable offensive player.

September 1, 2019 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Play by Play

Pinto named tournament's offensive MVP

By: Dave Lohse

SEATTLE, WASH. – After a sluggish start, the University of North Carolina women's soccer team poured on the offense in the final 65 minutes of the match and went on to blank the Portland Pilots 4-0 in the Husky Invitational at Husky Soccer Stadium on the UW campus. UNC sophomore midfielder Brianna Pinto was named the tournament's most valuable offensive player after assisting on two goals in Thursday's 3-2 win over the host Huskies and then scoring one of her own Sunday.

After three seniors scored in the Thursday win, the Tar Heels got goals from two sophomores and two freshmen in defeating the Pilots in the teams' first meeting since 2012. Rachel Jones and Alexis Strickland scored first half goals for UNC while Pinto and Isabel Cox tallied in the second half for the Tar Heels.

Carolina improved to 4-0 on the campaign while Portland suffered its first loss. The Pilots fell to 1-1-1 and conceded a goal for the first time this season after two season-opening shutouts.

The Tar Heels dented the scoreboard first at 27:57 of the match on sophomore forward Rachel Jones' first goal of the campaign. Freshman Julia Dorsey sent a long cross from the right side into the penalty area that pinged around at the left post amongst a host of players. Jones, who had entered the match just 45 seconds earlier, pounced on the loose ball and redirected it into the back of the net inside the near post.

It took less than 10 minutes for UNC to get its second goal. It came off the head of Alexis Stickland who headed home a corner kick by Lois Joel at 37:48 of the match. It was Strickland's second goal of the season, both on headers. Joel has been credited with assists on both Strickland goals.

UNC outshot the Pilots 5-0 in the first half and had a 5-1 edge in corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes.

Carolina dominated the game statistically in the second half, outshooting the Pilots 16-2 and earning eight corner kicks.

Pinto added to the Tar Heel lead at 50:38. A cross from the right side went just over the head of Isabel Cox and a Portland defender's clear fell to an unmarked Pinto at the eight-yard line. The sophomore midfielder from Durham calmly finished into the left side for a 3-0 Tar Heel advantage.

The final score of the game came at 86:15 off a brilliant individual effort by freshman forward Isabel Cox. She gained possession outside the box, dribbled into a dangerous spot near the 15 yard line, holding off her defenders and deposited a low shot inside the right post past diving Portland goalkeeper Jenny Wahlen. It was the first career goal for Cox.

UNC outshot the Pilots 21-8, including an 8-1 edge in shots on goal. Wahlen made four saves for Portland. UNC split goalkeepers with Marz Josephson playing the first half and Claudia Dickey playing the second half. Dickey made one save. UNC had 13 corner kicks while the Pilots had one. The Pilots were whistled for 13 fouls and Carolina just five.

Carolina returns to action Thursday in the Duke Nike Classic at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C. UNC will meet the LSU Tigers Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Carolina will also play in the same tournament next Sunday, facing UNLV at 12 noon.

GAME NOTES
• Carolina is now 9-1-1 all-time against the Pilots. Sunday's match was the first meeting between the two teams since Portland beat UNC 1-0 on August 17, 2012 at Merlo Field in Portland, Oregon.
• The Tar Heels limited Portland to two shots in the game. That is the third time in four games this season that Carolina has limited its opponents to two shots or less. Indiana had one shot on August 22 and Duke had two shots on August 25.
• Pinto, the tournament's offensive MVP, scored her team-leading third goal of the season. Alexis Strickland scored her second of the campaign and Rachel Jones and Isabel Cox each tallied their first goals.
• Carolina recorded its 599^th shutout in school history Sunday. The match Sunday was 965^th in Tar Heel history. UNC has shut out opponents 62.1 percent of the time all-time.
• UNC played its second straight game minus three starters – Alessia Russo, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Emily Fox – who are compete in the Nordic Tournament U23 competition in England.