Thomas’ Brace Lifts Women’s Soccer Past Georgia, 4-3

Thursday, August 22

Chapel Hill, N.C.

5 p.m. ET

North Carolina

#16 Georgia

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

August 22, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In a second half of back-and-forth goals which was highlighted by Olivia Thomas' first career brace, No. 5 North Carolina women's soccer powered its way to a 4-3 victory over No. 16 Georgia on Thursday night at Dorrance Field during the 2024 home opener in front of nearly 3,500 fans.

Following the win, the Tar Heels remain undefeated on the young season at 3-0 while the Bulldogs fall to 0-1-1. It was also the first ranked contest for UNC this season.

Carolina is now 42-2-2 all-time in home openers and is also undefeated in home openers at Dorrance Field since its opening in 2019.

How It Happened

The Tar Heels set the tone right from the first whistle, firing off seven shots and forcing four saves in the first 20 minutes of play.
VAR review confirmed UNC's first goal in the 35th minute after initially being ruled offside. Charging down the left side, Makenna Dominguez played a ball across the box to connect with Kate Faasse at the top of the 6-yard box. Faasse tapped it into the far post past the keeper with her first touch.
Carolina went into the break with momentum in its favor, having a 9-1 edge on shots and keeping Georgia without any shots on goal.
UGA's Margie Detrizio found a bit of a break after a defensive misstep to give the Bulldogs the equalizer in the 52nd minute, leveling the score at 1-1.
The Tar Heels responded in the 61st minute to regain a 2-1 lead. Linda Ullmark kept it alive after battling through traffic to get the ball to Thomas, who held her defender at bay on the turn while getting her right boot on a shot to the lower left corner of the far post.
Thomas made it a brace less than three minutes later for a 3-1 score. A short pass from Ullmark on the right flank allowed Bella Sember to drive it forward before her through ball landed in Thomas' path. Thomas fired a left-footed strike to the right post.
Hannah White, who created space at the top of the box before blasting one into the upper right 90, got the Bulldogs back within one in the 65th minute.
Bella Gaetino's goal in the 70th minute proved to be the game-winner, the first of the freshman's career. Taking a free kick from 20 yards out, her low shot off her right foot deflected off a Georgia defender and rolled past the keeper to the bottom center of the net.
White netted her second of the day after a lethal strike with 32 seconds left on the clock to make it a one-goal game yet again, but the visitors did not have enough time to find an equalizer as UNC held on for a 4-3 win.

Inside the Box Score

Thomas had seven shots and six on goal, out-shooting the entire Georgia squad which finished with six and only three on target. UNC had 19 with 13 on frame.
Faasse and Gaetino have now scored in back-to-back games.
Assists from Dominguez and Ullmark marked the first points of their careers.
Clare Gagne made three saves between the posts.
Carolina's defense has held all of its opponents to five shots on goal or fewer.
Five Tar Heels in Gagne, Trinity Armstrong, Gaetino, Aria Nagai and Tessa Dellarose logged a full 90 minutes.
This was UNC's first four-goal game since Sept. 30, 2023, at NC State.

Up Next
The fifth-ranked Tar Heels remain in Chapel Hill to host Arizona on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Dorrance Field. Kickoff is set for noon ET and the match will broadcast nationally 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.