Faasse’s Brace Sends Women’s Soccer To ACC Tournament Semifinals

Sunday, November 3

Chapel Hill, N.C.

6 p.m. ET

North Carolina

#12 Virginia Tech

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Faasse’s Brace Sends Women’s Soccer To ACC Tournament Semifinals

November 3, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Kate Faasse's third brace of the season in a 66-second span secured a semifinal spot for the fourth-seeded North Carolina women's soccer team following its 2-0 win over fifth-seed Virginia Tech in the first round of the 2024 Ally Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Sunday night at Dorrance Field.

UNC advances to the ACC Tournament semifinals and will face No. 1 Duke at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 7, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. It will be the third meeting between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils this season.

The Tar Heels, who are ranked eighth nationally, improve to 15-4 (7-3 ACC). The 12th-ranked Hokies drop to 11-5-3 (6-2-2 ACC).

How It Happened

Olivia Thomas registered UNC's first shot on goal in the 18th minute, stepping around her defender on the right flank to take a shot from a tough angle that was ultimately denied by Virginia Tech keeper Lauren Hargrove.
Thomas' powerful strike from distance nine minutes later was headed towards the bottom right corner, but Hargrove was again there with a diving save to deny Carolina the opportunity.
Heading into the break at a stalemate, the Tar Heels kept the Hokies to only one shot during the first 45 minutes while taking six of their own. UNC also had a 2-0 edge in shots on goal, both from Thomas.
The home team had a chance in the 56th minute that started from an Aria Nagai counterattack in midfield. Nagai played the ball to Maddie Dahlien on the left side who took a few touches to hammer it in with a low shot that was stopped by Hargrove.
A quick break moments later resulted in Dahlien getting to the endline to send a brilliant pass to Ullmark, whose touch – congested by traffic inside the box – went just wide.
Ullmark drew a foul inside the box to award Carolina a penalty kick in the 67th minute. Making it a 1-0 game was Faasse who had a well-placed penalty to the lower left corner.
Faasse quickly doubled UNC's lead just 66 seconds later for the brace. Holding off her defender on the left side, Emerson Elgin sent a short pass back which connected with Tessa Dellarose whose delivery into the box allowed Faasse to sneak in from behind to head it in.
Anchored by Aven Alvarez, Dellarose, Elgin and Bella Gaetino, the Tar Heels' defense stood tall and did not allow the Hokies to take a shot on frame the entire match.

Inside the Box Score

Faasse extended her team lead to 14 goals and 29 points. Her 14 goals rank fifth in the country.
It was the third brace of the season for Faasse, as she also had two against Colorado and Louisville.
Faasse now has six game-winning goals which ranks first in the ACC and third in the country.
Elgin picked up her first assist of the year. It was the fifth for Dellarose.
UNC limited VT, which had been averaging 14.7 shots per game, to only four while attempting 10 itself.
Carolina also kept Virginia Tech without a shot on goal, the second time it has done so this season. UNC had five on target.
Goalkeeper Clare Gagne was credited with her ninth shutout. UNC has 11 shutouts on the year.
Seven players logged a full 90 minutes: Alvarez, Dellarose, Elgin, Faasse, Gaetino, Gagne and Ullmark.
UNC extended its lead in the series with VT to 22-3-1, out-scoring them 61-17 all time.
The Tar Heels are now 72-9-6 all-time in the ACC Tournament, including 24-4 in the quarterfinals.

Up Next
The fourth-seeded Tar Heels now advance to the ACC Tournament semifinals and will face a familiar foe in top seed Duke, which received a first-round bye. The match will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Kickoff will be at 8 p.m. ET and will air on ACC Network. Tickets are available for purchase here.

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