University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Elgin, Nagai Receive NWSL Preseason Camp Invites
January 28, 2025 | Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – With the National Women's Soccer League's 2025 season fast approaching, two North Carolina women's soccer national champions have earned invitations to preseason camps as non-roster invitees. Emerson Elgin got the call from North Carolina Courage while Aria Nagai is training with the Utah Royals. Â
Elgin played in 26 games with 25 starts as a redshirt junior in 2024, logging 2,144 minutes with 19 matches of a full 90. She played all but eight minutes of UNC's six NCAA Tournament games, including every minute of the final five matches. The defender scored her first collegiate goal vs. Clemson and dished out an assist against Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament first round.Â
A native of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, Elgin helped anchor a back line which limited opponents to 8.0 shots per game and 3.8 shots on goal per game. Carolina conceded just one goal throughout the NCAA Tournament with zero goals allowed in the College Cup.
A graduate transfer midfielder, Nagai was one of five Tar Heels to start all 27 matches and ranked fourth on the team with 2,178 minutes. She finished her lone season in Chapel Hill with three goals and three assists for nine points, notching her first career brace at Florida State. She dished out the game-winning assist over top-ranked Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Nagai ended the season as TopDrawerSoccer's No. 66-ranked player. The Herndon, Virginia native was named to TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week on Dec. 4 and was selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
The duo join three other newly-crowned national champions in NWSL preseason camps. Trinity Armstrong signed with San Diego Wave, as did Maddie Dahlien with Seattle Reign FC and Clare Gagne with Kansas City Current.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Elgin played in 26 games with 25 starts as a redshirt junior in 2024, logging 2,144 minutes with 19 matches of a full 90. She played all but eight minutes of UNC's six NCAA Tournament games, including every minute of the final five matches. The defender scored her first collegiate goal vs. Clemson and dished out an assist against Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament first round.Â
A native of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, Elgin helped anchor a back line which limited opponents to 8.0 shots per game and 3.8 shots on goal per game. Carolina conceded just one goal throughout the NCAA Tournament with zero goals allowed in the College Cup.
A graduate transfer midfielder, Nagai was one of five Tar Heels to start all 27 matches and ranked fourth on the team with 2,178 minutes. She finished her lone season in Chapel Hill with three goals and three assists for nine points, notching her first career brace at Florida State. She dished out the game-winning assist over top-ranked Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Nagai ended the season as TopDrawerSoccer's No. 66-ranked player. The Herndon, Virginia native was named to TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week on Dec. 4 and was selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
The duo join three other newly-crowned national champions in NWSL preseason camps. Trinity Armstrong signed with San Diego Wave, as did Maddie Dahlien with Seattle Reign FC and Clare Gagne with Kansas City Current.
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
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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