Strong 2nd Half Not Enough as UNC Women’s Soccer Falls at No. 2 Notre Dame

Freshman Lauren Malsom recorded a brace with two goals at No. 2 Notre Dame Wednesday night, but it wasn’t enough to help UNC dig out of an early deficit and the Tar Heels fell 4-3. It’s the team’s second consecutive loss.

Malsom’s first goal came in the 39th minute, by which time the Tar Heels had already conceded twice. The Fighting Irish scored in the 7th and 21st minutes to stake themselves to an early 2-0 lead before Malsom pulled a goal back.

Notre Dame restored its two-goal edge early in the second half, before Malsom scored again in the 61st minute to once again pull UNC to within a goal at 3-2. But the Notre Dame offense proved too much to handle, scoring its fourth goal in the 72nd minute to increase its lead to 4-2. Olivia Thomas cut the deficit to 4-3 in the 86th minute, but it wasn’t meant to be for the Tar Heels.

The two sides combined for 33 total shots (17 for Notre Dame, 16 for UNC) and 17 shots on goal. The Irish outshot the Tar Heels 11-4 in the first half, but Carolina flipped the script and doubled the hosts up, 12-6, in the second half. Notre Dame goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica made five saves in the second half, including one on UNC’s Linda Ullmark to preserve the lead in the 89th minute.

Notre Dame’s four goals by the Tar Heels are their allowed most in a single match this season. The four goals are also more than Carolina had given up in its previous seven matches combined.

The loss drops UNC to 7-4 overall this season and 1-2 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will return to the pitch when they host Boston College at Dorrance Field next Thursday at 7 p.m.

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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