Women’s Soccer Storms Back For 3-2 Win At Colorado After Faasse’s Brace

Sunday, August 18

Boulder, Colo.

2 p.m. ET (Noon MT)

North Carolina

Colorado

Photo by: Will Insull

Women’s Soccer Storms Back For 3-2 Win At Colorado After Faasse’s Brace

August 18, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BOULDER, Colo. – Trailing by one with three minutes to go, a brace from Kate Faasse in a two-minute stretch powered North Carolina women's soccer to a nail-biting 3-2 win over Colorado on Sunday afternoon in Boulder.

Following the win at Pretnup Field, the Tar Heels move to 2-0 on the young season while the Buffaloes drop to 1-1. UNC began the season on Thursday with a 2-1 win at Denver.

How It Happened

The Tar Heels got on the board in the 28th minute off a delayed set piece. Tessa Dellarose's corner created chaos inside the box, as an attempted header from Olivia Thomas ultimately fell and allowed her to send it back to Bella Gaetino. Gaetino's right-footed first touch from about 10 yards out blasted through traffic and landed in the bottom center of the net.
UNC carried its 1-0 lead into the break, also holding a slight 11-7 advantage in shots and 3-2 edge in corners.
Colorado found the equalizer in the 53rd minute after capitalizing on a turnover in the midfield, which set up a strike from Shyra James to level the score.
The Tar Heels amped up the pressure in search of the go-ahead goal. Strong looks from Bella Sember, Linda Ullmark, Maddie Dahlien and Faasse forced a handful of saves from CU's keeper Jordan Nytes in a span of five minutes.
The Buffaloes took the lead in the 74th minute when, after an initial shot off a free kick was saved by UNC keeper Clare Gagne, Angelina Koschetti tapped in the rebound to go up 2-1.
Urgency was there for the Tar Heels as they continued to test Nytes, with two solid chances coming in succession from Olivia Thomas and Faasse that were both denied.
The continued probing into the attacking third paid off as Carolina leveled the score at 2-2 in the 88th minute. Thomas won a pair of 1v1 battles with Colorado defenders to maintain possession and fire off a shot to the far post, which Nytes was able to get her glove on. That deflection made its way to Faasse on the right side who was there to collect the rebound with a quick touch.
Faasse made it a brace just two minutes later with 41 seconds remaining on the clock for the game-winner. Initially intended for Thomas, a ball from Dellarose went over her head and connected with Faasse in a similar position. Faasse's chip snuck past the keeper into the bottom right corner.
The Buffaloes nearly made it a tie game once again with 10 seconds to go. A direct ball was deflected by a defender, but Gagne was there for the save to preserve UNC's 3-2 lead.

Inside the Box Score

It was Faasse's first brace as she now has eight career goals. Gaetino's goal marked the first of the freshman's career.
Thomas registered her first career assist, finishing the day with two.
Gagne concluded the game with three saves between the posts.
UNC out-shot CU 22-11, including 11-4 in the second half. Sember, Thomas, Faasse and Ullmark contributed 16 of those shots with four apiece.
Emerson Elgin, Gagne and Sember were the lone Tar Heels to log a full 90 minutes.

Up Next
The eighth-ranked Tar Heels return to Chapel Hill for their home opener on Thursday, Aug. 22, against No. 14 Georgia at 5 p.m. ET. The match will mark the first of seven straight games played in the state of North Carolina, including six at Dorrance Field. Tickets can be purchased here.

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