University of North Carolina Athletics
TopDrawerSoccer’s Postseason Awards Feature Several Tar Heels
December 19, 2024 | Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Coming off its 23rd national championship in program history, several members of the North Carolina women's soccer team have been recognized by TopDrawerSoccer based on individual performance, statistical accomplishments, conference honors, and team success.
Among the major postseason awards include Kate Faasse being named the TDS Player of the Year and Damon Nahas being tabbed the TDS Coach of the Year.
Faasse was also named to the TDS Best XI First Team while Trinity Armstrong, Tessa Dellarose and Clare Gagne were selected to the Best XI Second Team. Linda Ullmark landed on the Freshman Best XI First Team with Bella Gaetino snagging a spot on the Freshman Best XI Second Team.
Additionally, the Tar Heels were ranked No. 1 in TopDrawerSoccer's final poll of the 2024 season.
A forward, Faasse was the nation's outright leader with 20 goals and tied for first with eight game-winning goals. The junior became the fourth player this century to win a national title while leading the country in goals. Faasse racked up the honors this year, as she was a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, Honda Award finalist, First Team All-America, First Team All-Region and First Team All-ACC performer while also securing a spot on the ACC All-Tournament Team.
Nahas became the second coach in NCAA women's soccer history to win a national championship in their first year as head coach. He spent the 2024 season as interim head coach before the tag was lifted prior to the national championship game. He guided the Tar Heels to a 22-5 (7-3 ACC) record and the No. 1 ranking in the final coaches poll.
Despite only being a freshman, Armstrong showed why she is regarded as one of the best defenders in the country. She anchored UNC's back line which allowed just one goal during the NCAA Tournament, and her first collegiate goal was the game-winner in the ACC Tournament semifinals. She earned All-America Second Team, All-Atlantic First Team and All-ACC First Team praise, also garnering spots on both the NCAA and ACC All-Tournament Teams.
One of this year's co-captains, Dellarose has started every match and totaled four goals and 15 points in addition to a team-leading seven assists. The midfielder netted her third game-winning goal in the NCAA Second Round against Santa Clara. She was selected to the All-America Fourth Team, All-Region Second Team and All-ACC Third Team.
Gagne was a force between the posts this season, ending the year with a 0.771 save percentage and 0.83 goals-against average. She conceded just one goal during the NCAA Tournament and had back-to-back shutouts in the College Cup. Gagne was honored as the NCAA Tournament's Defensive Most Outstanding Player, becoming the second UNC goalkeeper to earn the honor.
Ullmark had herself a sensational season, capping off her rookie year ranked fourth on the team with 17 points behind six goals and five assists, highlighted by two braces. She logged 2,141 minutes and was the lone freshman to start all 27 games. The midfielder found herself on the ACC All-Freshman Team, ACC All-Tournament Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team in addition to being the TDS National Player of the Week on Oct. 1.
Another freshman who impressed this season was Gaetino who was a key part of Carolina's backline which limited opponents to 8.0 shots per game and 3.8 shots on goal per game. She logged 2,077 minutes and had five goals and two assists for 12 points. Two of her five goals were even featured on SportsCenter's Top 10.
Carolina won the 2024 NCAA Division I women's soccer championship, the program's 23rd national title and first in 12 years. UNC has now won 22 of 43 NCAA titles, plus the 1981 AIAW title for 23 total national championships. No other women's soccer team owns more than four.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Among the major postseason awards include Kate Faasse being named the TDS Player of the Year and Damon Nahas being tabbed the TDS Coach of the Year.
Faasse was also named to the TDS Best XI First Team while Trinity Armstrong, Tessa Dellarose and Clare Gagne were selected to the Best XI Second Team. Linda Ullmark landed on the Freshman Best XI First Team with Bella Gaetino snagging a spot on the Freshman Best XI Second Team.
Additionally, the Tar Heels were ranked No. 1 in TopDrawerSoccer's final poll of the 2024 season.
A forward, Faasse was the nation's outright leader with 20 goals and tied for first with eight game-winning goals. The junior became the fourth player this century to win a national title while leading the country in goals. Faasse racked up the honors this year, as she was a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, Honda Award finalist, First Team All-America, First Team All-Region and First Team All-ACC performer while also securing a spot on the ACC All-Tournament Team.
Nahas became the second coach in NCAA women's soccer history to win a national championship in their first year as head coach. He spent the 2024 season as interim head coach before the tag was lifted prior to the national championship game. He guided the Tar Heels to a 22-5 (7-3 ACC) record and the No. 1 ranking in the final coaches poll.
Despite only being a freshman, Armstrong showed why she is regarded as one of the best defenders in the country. She anchored UNC's back line which allowed just one goal during the NCAA Tournament, and her first collegiate goal was the game-winner in the ACC Tournament semifinals. She earned All-America Second Team, All-Atlantic First Team and All-ACC First Team praise, also garnering spots on both the NCAA and ACC All-Tournament Teams.
One of this year's co-captains, Dellarose has started every match and totaled four goals and 15 points in addition to a team-leading seven assists. The midfielder netted her third game-winning goal in the NCAA Second Round against Santa Clara. She was selected to the All-America Fourth Team, All-Region Second Team and All-ACC Third Team.
Gagne was a force between the posts this season, ending the year with a 0.771 save percentage and 0.83 goals-against average. She conceded just one goal during the NCAA Tournament and had back-to-back shutouts in the College Cup. Gagne was honored as the NCAA Tournament's Defensive Most Outstanding Player, becoming the second UNC goalkeeper to earn the honor.
Ullmark had herself a sensational season, capping off her rookie year ranked fourth on the team with 17 points behind six goals and five assists, highlighted by two braces. She logged 2,141 minutes and was the lone freshman to start all 27 games. The midfielder found herself on the ACC All-Freshman Team, ACC All-Tournament Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team in addition to being the TDS National Player of the Week on Oct. 1.
Another freshman who impressed this season was Gaetino who was a key part of Carolina's backline which limited opponents to 8.0 shots per game and 3.8 shots on goal per game. She logged 2,077 minutes and had five goals and two assists for 12 points. Two of her five goals were even featured on SportsCenter's Top 10.
Carolina won the 2024 NCAA Division I women's soccer championship, the program's 23rd national title and first in 12 years. UNC has now won 22 of 43 NCAA titles, plus the 1981 AIAW title for 23 total national championships. No other women's soccer team owns more than four.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder/Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's SoccerUNC Men's Basketball: Tar Heels Breeze Past ECU, 99-51
Tuesday, December 23
Carolina Stories: Inspiring Through Team IMPACT
Monday, December 22
WBB: Post-Charleston Southern Press Conference - Dec. 21, 2025presser
Sunday, December 21
UNC Women's Basketball: Tar Heels Topple Charleston Southern, 93-74
Sunday, December 21