
The UNC women’s soccer team posted eye-popping offensive numbers in a 5-0 win against Gardner-Webb on Thursday night. Carolina outshot the Runnin’ Bulldogs 41-1 in the win and sent 12 shots on target. It was more than enough for the Tar Heels to earn their second consecutive win and third of the young season.
Each of Carolina’s five goals came from five different players: Tessa Dellarose, Talia Dellaperuta, Melina Rebimbas, Tori Dellaperuta and Kate Faase. Despite that, head coach Anson Dorrance named a non-goal-scorer – true freshman Evelyn Shores, who assisted on Faase’s goal in the 88th minute – as the player of the match. Shores finished with four shots in just 34 minutes off the bench.
“The entire time I was watching her, she was playing with her head on a swivel, making the absolute best decision every time,” Dorrance said. “Watching the way she plays… tells me she is going to be a force not just for UNC but for professional teams, and even the U.S. full national team. I think she has absolutely unlimited potential.”
Only one UNC player played the full 90 minutes: redshirt freshman goalkeeper Nona Reason, making her first start of her collegiate career. Reason only had to make one save to keep the clean sheet. It’s Carolina’s fourth shutout in five matches this season.
At 3-0-2, UNC will now face a difficult home match against No. 8 Arkansas on Sunday at 2 p.m. It will be the last of a five-match homestand for Carolina, after which it will embark on a challenging two-leg road trip at No. 13 South Carolina and No. 5 Alabama next week.
Featured image via UNC Women’s Soccer on Twitter
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