No. 3 UNC Women's Soccer Opens Season With 4-1 Victory Over No. 19 Washington

After the UNC women’s soccer team squeaked by Washington to advance to the quarterfinals of the College Cup in the spring, Carolina head coach Anson Dorrance anticipated another close battle in the rematch to open the fall 2021 season.

He must’ve been pleasantly surprised when his Tar Heels dominated the Huskies to the tune of a 4-1 rout at Dorrance Field Thursday night.

Freshman forward Emily Murphy, who almost signed professionally with Chelsea FC in her home country of England, scored the opening goal of the night in the 11th minute, and the Tar Heels never looked back.

Fellow freshman Ruby Grant, also from England, doubled Carolina’s advantage later in the first half. Relating to the number of English players on his roster, Dorrance described himself after the game as “an Anglophile,” adding that he’s read almost every biography on former British prime minister Winston Churchill.

“They invented the game I love!” he said.

The UNC women’s soccer team celebrates Ruby Grant’s first goal against Washington.

Murphy said Dorrance was a “big influence” in her decision to don Carolina blue instead of Chelsea blue.

“He has a huge reputation, and a positive one,” she told reporters after the game, noting Dorrance’s history of player development as a standout quality. She also acknowledged that a chance to play soccer and get an education was something unique to playing in America.

Murphy was one of four freshman starters for Carolina against the Huskies, along with forward Emily Colton and defenders Emily Moxley and Emerson Elgin.

“We knew their quality long before they got here,” Dorrance said. “It wasn’t like anyone was a surprise.”

UNC’s Emily Colton dribbles past a Washington defender.

Washington drew to within a goal before halftime, but the Tar Heels answered with two more scores in the second half: one from Isabel Cox and another from Grant, her second on the night.

Grant’s score came on a penalty kick after Washington committed a foul inside their own 18-yard box.

UNC’s Ruby Grant (#3) protests a foul against Washington.

“When I step up to a penalty [kick], mostly I’m just trying to keep my head as clear as possible,” Grant said. “I tend to repeat the word ‘confidence’ over and over again… Penalties are such a simple thing when you break it down. I always try to remind myself how I’m in control. The chance the keeper has is so slim if I hit it right.”

Grant hit it right, and the Tar Heels led 4-1.

The UNC women’s soccer team celebrates Ruby Grant’s second goal against Washington.

Carolina controlled possession throughout the game, only allowing three shots on goal to sail goalkeeper Claudia Dickey’s way. By comparison, Husky keeper Olivia Sekany faced 11 shots on goal during the game.

“I would love to pretend it was our brilliant coaching that caused us to dominate possession,” Dorrance said. “But honestly… the kids we recruited are ass-kickers. You can’t take a two-week preseason and pretend you did anything to change them. What we did is we identified them, we worked our tails off to recruit them and then we gave them a chance to play.”

The Tar Heels will only have two days to rest and recover before hosting No. 13 Arkansas on Sunday in Chapel Hill. That game will be played at 1 p.m.

“Mainly we just focus on ourselves,” Grant said of the short turnaround. “Prepare our bodies, recovering, and then getting ready to go again.”

“Don’t know how that works when I’ve got class at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning,” Murphy added. “That doesn’t help.”

UNC fans cheer on their team against Washington.

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No. 3 UNC Women’s Soccer Opens Season With 4-1 Victory Over No. 19 Washington

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