The No. 1 UNC women’s soccer team fell for the first time in 2022 on Sunday afternoon, dropping a hotly-contested match with No. 3 UCLA at Dorrance Field, 2-1.

It’s the first time all season UNC has given up multiple goals in a single match.

A scoreless first half gave way to scoring aplenty in the second. Freshman Tori Dellaperuta gave Carolina the lead early in the second half, scoring for the third consecutive match. But the Tar Heels uncharacteristically couldn’t hold on to the lead, as UCLA equalized in the 61st minute and pushed in front in the 84th. UNC had no answer in the remaining few minutes.

Carolina’s offensive frustrations weren’t for a lack of trying. On the day, the Tar Heels outshot the Bruins 16-7 and held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks. UCLA’s goalkeeper, Lauren Brzykcy, made four saves and outperformed either of UNC’s two keepers, Emmie Allen and Marz Josephson. Josephson played the second half and allowed both UCLA goals. It’s perhaps the first real sign of separation between the two Tar Heel keepers, who have been consistently splitting time since the season began.

The loss drops Carolina to 5-1 and, in all likelihood, out of their No. 1 ranking. The road will not get any easier, as the Tar Heels will next pay a visit to No. 2 Duke in Durham on Thursday night. The Blue Devils dealt Carolina a 1-0 loss in Chapel Hill last season.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Soccer on Twitter

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