Late Flurry Sends Women’s Soccer Over Arizona, 2-0

Sunday, August 25

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Noon ET

North Carolina

4-0-0, 0-0-0

Arizona

3-1-0, 0-0-0

Arizona

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

August 25, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After knocking on the door all game, late goals from Tessa Dellarose and Olivia Thomas sparked a 2-0 victory for No. 5 North Carolina women's soccer over Arizona in the first-ever meeting between the two teams on Sunday afternoon at Dorrance Field.

Following the win, the Tar Heels remain undefeated at 4-0 while the Wildcats suffer their first loss and drop to 3-1.

How It Happened

Carolina dominated possession from the first whistle, firing off six shots in the opening 20 minutes and locking down in the midfield to prevent Arizona from entering the attacking third.
Ullmark had two of the better looks of the first half to force a pair of saves from Arizona keeper Olivia Ramey. Her shot in the 21st minute forced a diving save before another attempt, this time finding herself 1v1 with Ramey, was again denied two minutes later.
Despite out-shooting the visitors 10-2 – including 5-0 on target – the Tar Heels and Wildcats went into halftime scoreless. UNC also stockpiled corner kicks with an 11-1 advantage.
UNC continued to press coming out of the break. A give-and-go sequence between Ullmark and Thomas in the 49th minute allowed Ullmark to again find herself alone with the keeper, with her strike ultimately hitting the crossbar.
A cross from Kate Faasse from the back connected with Ullmark whose header bounced to Thomas at the top of the 6-yard box, but an outstretched Ramey prevented the scoring opportunity in the 55th minute.
UNC finally broke through in the 76th minute. A ball from Makenna Dominguez into the box was headed out by a UA defender and rolled to Dellarose at the top of the 18-yard box. Fending off her defender to create space, Dellarose fired off a long-range strike with her left boot to the upper left corner to get the home team on the board.
Thomas gave Carolina an insurance goal with just over two minutes remaining in the match. A Wildcat defender failed to clear it after a throw-in which prompted Thomas to win the ball, dribble forward and send a low left-footed shot to the far post from a challenging angle to seal the 2-0 win.

Inside the Box Score

Dellarose scored her second goal of the season as Thomas netted her third. Dellarose's goal was the first Arizona had conceded this year.
Carolina finished with 24 shots to Arizona's three – the most UNC has taken this season – with Ullmark registering a game-high six.
The Tar Heels also had an 11-1 edge in shots on goal, led by Thomas with four.
Carolina's back line has held all opponents to five shots on goal or fewer.
UNC's 14 corner kicks were the most since taking 15 against Syracuse on Oct 22, 2023. UA had only three.
Between the posts, Clare Gagne picked up her first shutout as a Tar Heel and made one save.
Gagne, Trinity Armstrong, Emerson Elgin, Faasse, Aria Nagai and Dellarose all logged a full 90 minutes.

Up Next
The fifth-ranked Tar Heels continue their lengthy homestand with another nonconference matchup at Dorrance Field on Thursday, Aug. 29, against North Dakota. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET and will air on ACCNX.

Thursday will also be a doubleheader with UNC Men's Soccer, which hosts FIU at 7:30 p.m. One ticket will gain access to both events. 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.