Patterson's, Colton's Late Goals Secure Tie with Virginia Tech

Thursday, September 23

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7 PM

North Carolina

7-2-1, 0-1-1

Virginia Tech

7-2-1, 1-0-1

Virginia Tech

North Carolina

Patterson's, Colton's Late Goals Secure Tie with Virginia Tech

September 23, 2021 | Women's Soccer

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Tar Heels Score Pair in Final Nine Minutes

By: Steve Kirschner

Freshman forward Emily Colton scored with 5:57 to play in regulation, the University of North Carolina's second goal in a span of 2:40, to force a 2-2 tie with Virginia Tech Thursday evening at Dorrance Field.

The Tar Heels are 7-1-1, 0-1-1 in ACC play, while the Hokies are 7-2-1, 1-1 in league action.

Carolina out-shot Tech, 32-10, but trailed by two goals with under nine minutes to play. It was the first time this season UNC fell behind by a pair of goals and the first time that happened at home since 2013.

The Hokies scored in the 31^st minute of the first half when Tori Powell intercepted an errant back pass and found an open net. Tech added a second goal with 10:33 to play in the second half after another defensive error on a failed clear led to a Nicole Kozlova goal.

Those were the first goals by Virginia Tech against Carolina in nine games dating back to 2015.

Carolina answered the two-goal deficit almost immediately after switching to a new formation.

Left winger Rachel Jones's cross found Avery Patterson at the top of the box and Patterson blasted a shot into the upper right corner of the goal with 8:37 to play for her third score of the season.

Less than two minutes later, Maycee Bell got her head on a Paige Tolentino corner kick. Bell's header directed the ball toward the goal where Colton volleyed it past the Tech defense for the tying score. It was Colton's team-leading fifth goal of the season. The Carlsbad, Calif., native had a game-high seven shots, including six on goal.

Carolina had a 7-2 advantage in shots in overtime, but the Hokies had an excellent shot to end the game less than two minutes into extra time. Emily Gray's point-blank shot from six yards out was saved by UNC's Claudia Dickey.

Sixteen of UNC's 32 shots were on goal. Hokie goalkeeper Alia Skinner made a career-high 14 saves.

The Tar Heels had several quality scoring chances in overtime, the best being a header by Bell and then a shot by Colton with under a minute to play.

The Tar Heels return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday at home against Clemson.