The No. 2 UNC women’s soccer team did something on Sunday afternoon it hadn’t done yet this season: it earned itself a comeback win. The Tar Heels conceded a first-half goal to visiting UCF and trailed 1-0 at Dorrance Field, but an equalizer just before halftime and a go-ahead goal early in the second half were all they needed to clinch a 2-1 win.

“Clearly we were fatigued from the Duke game,” said Carolina head coach Anson Dorrance. “We still have to have have the capacity, even fatigued, to bring an A game. UCF didn’t play on Thursday, and we were a little burned out from playing our bitter rival.”

Ellie Moreno’s opening goal for UCF was one of four shots for the Knights in the first half. By comparison, the No. 3 Blue Devils took just two shots during the entire game Thursday night in Durham. Though the Tar Heels were far from sharp, Ally Sentnor’s second goal of the season in the 44th minute brought the match back onto level terms. Sentnor didn’t start the match, but was one of 10 substitutes UNC brought on during the course of the match.

“A part of the reason we won is we subbed,” Dorrance said. “I think in the second half you could see the game turn as it wore on. We had more and more domination, more and more chances, and that’s a credit to our depth.”

UNC continued to press after halftime, and it was Avery Patterson netting her sixth goal of the season in the 59th minute which gave Carolina the lead for good. Patterson has already eclipsed her scoring mark from all of the 2021 season, when she scored five goals.

Carolina ended up outshooting the Knights 15-7. Emmie Allen, once again starting for UNC in net over backup Marz Josephson, made three saves on the day.

The win is UNC’s second straight after dropping its first match of the year last Sunday and losing the No. 1 ranking, but the team’s hold on No. 2 appears to be firm. The 7-1 Tar Heels will have six days to rest and recover before another ranked clash at Dorrance Field. No. 5 Virginia will come calling Saturday night at 6 p.m. The Cavaliers are unbeaten on the season.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Soccer on Twitter

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