No. 4 Women’s Soccer Cruises Past Gardner-Webb, 5-0

Thursday, August 31

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7 p.m. ET

North Carolina

Gardner-Webb

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

August 31, 2023 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The fourth-ranked University of North Carolina women's soccer team started out fast and did not slow down, posting a 5-0 win over Gardner-Webb on Thursday night at Dorrance Field behind goals from five different players.

Following the win, the Tar Heels improve to 3-0-2 on the year while the Runnin' Bulldogs drop to 1-4.

How It Happened

Carolina dominated possession from the first whistle, firing off five shots before breaking through in the 14th minute for a lead it would not relinquish.
Crafty passing between a trio of Tar Heels through four defenders ultimately made its way to Tessa Dellarose, whose shot from the left to the far post slipped past GWU goalkeeper Jamie Martin's gloves. It was the first goal of Dellarose's career.
UNC doubled its lead in the 23rd minute after Avery Patterson's cross from the left side connected with Talia Dellaperuta at the top of the six-yard box, which resulted in her header sailing into the back of the net for her first of the year.
The home team once again extended its lead nine minutes later when a strike from Melina Rebimbas inside the box landed in the bottom right corner, marking the second goal of her career.
The home team carried its three-goal advantage into the half, out-shooting the Runnin' Bulldogs 24-0. It was the third consecutive game UNC's back line prevented its opponent from taking a shot in the opening half.
Continuing to break down Gardner-Webb's defense in the second frame, Tori Dellaperuta gave Carolina a 4-0 edge in the 65th minute. Her second tally in as many games came in the form of a header off a feed from Rebimbas' corner kick.
Kate Faasse sealed UNC's 5-0 final tally in the 88th minute, her first goal of the 2023 campaign. Evelyn Shores sent a cross which found Faasse by the goal line, who tapped it into the bottom right.

Inside the Box Score

The Tar Heels, which have kept its opponents to five shots or fewer in every game so far, held the Runnin' Bulldogs to just one the entire game.
UNC took 41 shots during the contest, the most attempted since taking 44 against Belmont on Nov. 16, 2019.
Carolina's 24 shots in the first half was just one less than the 25 it recorded during a full 90 minutes against both Cal and USC.
Eighteen Tar Heels took at least one shot, with four players taking a game-high four.
UNC saw a season-high 12 shots on goal. Ally Sentnor and both Dellaperuta sisters had two on frame.
Carolina also had 15 corner kicks to Gardner-Webb's zero, the first time it has had 15+ since Nov. 10, 2020, against Virginia Tech.
It was also the first time UNC has not allowed an opponent corner kick since UNCW on Aug. 21, 2022.
Earning the start in her first career appearance, Nona Reason picked up her first clean sheet and made one save.

Up Next
The fourth-ranked Tar Heels are back at Dorrance Field on Sunday, Sept. 3, for a big top-10 matchup against No. 8 Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET and the game will air nationally on ACC Network.

Tickets are available for purchase here. There will be a team poster signing following the conclusion of the match.

Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.