Julia Ashley

Julia Ashley, Brianna Pinto, Rachael Dorwart

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Photo by: Keith Lucas

Position:
Defender
Height:
5-8
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Verona, N.J.
High School:
Verona

Julia Ashley
Dorrance on Julia: Julia is a coach’s dream. She came in as a hard-working player and all she did was work even harder. She really wants to be the best. She’s had opportunities now at the U23 level and I am very proud of her for that because her partner in the defense when she was growing up was a kid who was recruited by Stanford that for most of Julia’s life that kid was considered a much better player. But Julia has worked herself to death and now Julia is on the U23 Team and this other kid is not. That’s indicative of how hard Julia works. She’s a fabulous leader. She’s not afraid to hold people accountable which is very rare in women’s athletics. Even the great players are reluctant to hold teammates responsible but I really respect Julia’s strength as well as her leadership qualities, her heart, her hard-working nature and also her aerobic capacity. Her aerobic capacity is amongst the best in history at the University of North Carolina. I think she turned down a track scholarship at Duke to come here to play soccer for us and you can see the track star in her because she is absolutely relentless and so hard-working on the field. She’s an absolute joy and I am so glad we have her for another season.
Senior Year (2018): Elected team tri-captain • member of U.S. U23 National Team • one of 10 finalists for the 2018 Senior CLASS Award • named to MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List • second-team All-ACC selection • first-team United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region selection • has started at right back in all 25 games, playing 2,206 minutes, the highest total on team • leads team in assists with 10 and and is tied for team lead in points with 20 • her 10 assists are the most in the season by a Tar Heel since Courtney Jones had 14 assists in 2010 • one of five Tar Heels on the team with five goals which is tied for third on Tar Heel squad • is second on team in game-winning goals with three • assisted on Rachael Dorwart’s insurance goal in 3-1 win over Illinois in season opener • scored game-winning goal against Providence in 40th minute • assisted on Zoe Redei’s goal in 34th minute against Marquette and then scored a goal of her own in the 36th minute against the Golden Eagles • her goal against Providence was the second game-winner of her career • her two goals in successive games against Providence & Marquette just three days apart matched her goal total from her first three years combined at UNC • added her third goal of the season against Syracuse, the game-winning goal on a header off a corner kick in the 25th minute • assisted on game-winning goal by Alessia Russo versus Virginia Tech in regular season game • also recorded primary assist on Madison Schultz’s game-winning goal against Wake Forest • had a goal and an assist in NCAA Tournament first round win over Howard • scored game-winning goal in 17th minute versus the Bison and then assisted on a goal by Bridgette Andrzejewski in the 45th minute • had three assists in NCAA second round win over Kansas • that was her first multi-assist game in her career • added her 10th assist of the year on the game-winning goal by Alex Kimball in NCAA third round win over Virginia Tech • opened the scoring in the NCAA quarterfinal win over UCLA with a tally on a header in the third minute • named ACC co-defensive player of the week on August 21, 2018 • also named to Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on August 21 and again on September 3 • tapped as the Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week on September 3 • on October 23, she was named to Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week for the third time this season • her performance against Wake Forest and Virginia Tech earned her Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week honors for the fourth time this season on October 30 • was named to Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week for the fifth time this season on November 19 • was tapped for TDS National Team of the Week for the sixth time on November 27.
Junior Year (2017): One of the nation’s most consistent defensive performers • named second-team All-ACC • also earned honors on All-Tournament Team as Carolina claimed ACC title • named to 2017 All-ACC Academic Women’s Soccer Team • also named to United Soccer Coaches All-East Region first team • started all 22 games at right back, a spot where she has started since the first game of her freshman year in 2015 • team captain • led UNC in minutes played with 2,007 amongst all field players • tapped as ACC Defensive Player of the Week after Tar Heels posted back-to-back shutouts against Auburn and UNCW • earned her second ACC Defensive Player of the Week accolade on October 10 after leading Tar Heels to shutout wins over Miami and Wake Forest • played every minute last year except last 10 minutes when she was subbed out in rout against Auburn and final 29 minutes versus Syracuse when Tar Heels were already ahead 5-0 • scored her first career goal in 4-0 win over Virginia Tech, heading home a direct kick by Joanna Boyles for the game-winner in the 15th minute • notched second goal of her career in 3-0 NCAA first round win over High Point • had an assist on Sydney Spruill’s game-winning goal versus UNCW • also assisted on a goal by Joanna Boyles against Syracuse • assisted on a goal by Madison Schultz against Miami and had a helper on Alessia Russo’s game-winning goal versus Wake Forest • assisted on Bridgette Andrzejewski’s game-winning goal versus Boston College in ninth minute of game • that was her fifth assist of the season • tied for third on the team in assists and was team’s fifth leading scorer with nine points • won Iron Ram Award in 2017-18 as team’s top performer in strength and conditioning area.
Sophomore Year (2016): Started at right back for the second straight year • third-team NSCAA All-Southeast Region honoree • played in 24 games, starting 22 times • totaled 2,191 minutes on the pitch and took 12 shots • ranked second on the team in minutes among field players behind only Hanna Gardner • earned her first point of the year with an assist on a Megan Buckingham goal versus Pitt • also assisted on UNC’s game-winning goal in ACC Tournament semifinals versus Notre Dame • tapped for All-Tournament Team at ACC Tournament • named to Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on November 1, 2016 after Tar Heels recorded shutout wins over Florida State and Virginia • Rising Star in the Carolina Leadership Academy • named to 2016-17 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
Freshman Year (2015): She earned the starting role at right back, replacing the graduated Satara Murray who was a four-year starter • 2015 Top Drawer Soccer first-team freshman All-America • named to 2015 Freshman All-ACC Team • started all 21 games • played the second most minutes on the team at 1,848 • assisted on UNC’s first goal of the season versus Weber State • assisted on Sarah Ashley Firstenberg’s game-winning goal against USC in a 2-1 win • posted her third assist of the year on opening goal of Syracuse game by Alexa Newfield • named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Team of the Week on August 25, 2015 • named to 2015-16 ACC Academic Honor Roll • also tapped for 2016 spring semester Dean’s List.
High School: Attended Verona High School • four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • only played one year of high school soccer due to her club team commitments • MVP for Verona team that won North Section I Group I state championship for the first time in school history • first-team All-Super Essex Conference, Liberty Division and All-N.J. Group I honoree • competed in high school track for four years, establishing school records in 400 meters, 800 meters and indoor and outdoor mile • recorded third fastest time nationally in mile as a freshman • N.J.com SEC Athlete of the Year 2014-15 • Essex County SEC Athlete of the Year from 2013-15.
Club: Played club soccer on the Match Fit Colchesters since she was seven years old • it is one of the most successful and decorated girls’ club teams in New Jersey • played on a team in 2015 which was ranked #2 nationally by Top Drawer Soccer (ECNL U18) • she played outside back, center back, outside midfield and center midfield for her club team • she led Match Fit team to USYS Nationals in 2011 & 2013, National League championship in 2013, Region I title in 2011, Region I Premier League crown in 2012 and four N.J. State Cup championships • co-captain for nine years of one of the USA’s top-ranked girls club teams • named captain for N.J. ODP at 2012 National Championship • named to Best 11 at 2011 USYS Nationals • earned a U15 National Training Center invite in 2011 • member of U14/U15 National Team • named to ‘96 Region I Team from 2009-11 • competed in inter-Regional event in Florida 2010-11 • chosen for a spot on the team at an international event in Costa Rica in 2011 • tapped for id2 National identification camp in 2010 in Frisco, Texas • merited nod on N.J. ODP State Team 2009-11.
Personal: Was born November 11, 1996 in Verona, N.J. • daughter of Martin Ashley and Suzanne Ashley • stands 5-8 tall • both parents attended Boston College • her mother was a competitive swimmer while her father was a track and cross country student-athlete • has two sisters • Maggie is a recent Verona High School graduate where she competed in track and lacrosse while Kate is a senior and runs track and plays basketball • exercise and sports science major.