No. 2 Women's Soccer Rallies By UCF

Sunday, September 11

Chapel Hill

1 p.m.

North Carolina

7-1-0, 0-0-0

UCF

2-2-2, 0-0-0

UCF

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 11, 2022 | Women's Soccer

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By: Jody Jones

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 2 North Carolina women's soccer team bounced back from a 1-0 deficit in the first half to defeat UCF, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon in its final non-conference game of the season at Dorrance Field.

In another recent meeting between UNC (7-1) and UCF (2-2-2) in 2017, it was the Knights who recorded a 2-1 comeback victory after trailing 1-0.

The Tar Heels were coming off an emotional and physical victory over arch-rival Duke on Thursday, while UCF took the field for the first time in a week.

"Clearly we were fatigued from the Duke game," UNC head coach Anson Dorrance said. "We still have to have the capacity, even fatigued, to bring an A game. UCF didn't play on Thursday, and we were a little burned out from playing our bitter rival.

"A part of the reason we won is we subbed. I think in the second half you could see the game turn as it wore on. We had more and more domination, more and more chances, and that's a credit to our depth."

The Knights put the first goal on the board after Ellie Moreno's shot sailed past UNC goalkeeper Emmie Allen, giving UCF a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.

After UCF seized the early advantage, midfielder Sam Meza came off the bench and changed the game entirely with her defensive prowess.

"We cannot play without Sam Meza on the field," Dorrance stated. "I was hoping we could beat UCF without putting her on the field. It was clear after about 20 minutes in the first half, that was a huge mistake when we were down a goal.

"With Sam in the game, we sort of took over; not in an extraordinary way because we were still fatigued. She is too important for us to ever leave on the bench."

As the first half approached its final minutes, UNC redshirt freshman Ally Sentnor received the ball at the edge of the penalty box and dribbled past a pair of defenders before whizzing the ball into the open goal to tie the game, 1-1.

"It was a great quick pass from [Emily Murphy] and I was able to beat my defender," Sentnor said. "My teammates' runs created space for me, and it was exciting to get a goal again."

Carolina continued its relentless offensive pressure at the outset of the second half and took the lead 13 minutes into the stanza as Avery Patterson created space and struck the ball inside the back post for the game-winning goal.

The Tar Heels held possession for 58 percent of the game with 15 shots, including six on goal. UCF finished with seven shots, four of which were on goal. Carolina had a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Allen made three saves for UNC while Caroline DeLisle had four save in net for UCF.

Carolina returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 17 against No. 5 Virginia to open Atlantic Coast Conference play. The match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start at Dorrance Field.