Carolina’s unbeaten run to begin the 2024 season came to an end in Durham on Thursday night, as Duke defeated the Tar Heels 1-0. It’s the first loss at Duke in the history of the UNC women’s soccer program, and just the fifth overall.

The Blue Devils found the game’s only goal with 38 seconds remaining in the first half and smothered the Carolina offense the rest of the way. UNC managed just six total shots, its fewest in a single match since 2017. The Tar Heels were also held without a corner kick for the first time since 2022.

Bella Sember accounted for four of UNC’s six shots, but the Tar Heels were notably down two strikers: Maddie Dahlien is representing Team USA at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia and Olivia Thomas missed the match due to an injury. Thomas already has three goals on the young season.

The match will not count against Carolina’s ACC record, as it was played outside the league’s normal scheduling rotation. UNC will take its 6-1-0 record into its non-conference finale against Columbia at Dorrance Field on Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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