A double-overtime winner from No. 13 Wake Forest helped the Demon Deacons upset UNC 2-1 in Winston-Salem Friday evening. It’s the Tar Heels’ first loss this season and second loss in ACC play in three seasons under head coach Erin Matson.
The game was a defensive struggle throughout, entering the fourth quarter in a scoreless draw. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, as the teams combined for 26 shots on target through the first 45 minutes. Carolina thought it had scored the winner with less than five minutes to play, as Eliza Perrin finally broke the deadlock to give the Tar Heels the lead. But Wake Forest answered with 1:17 left on the clock, scoring off a penalty corner to knot the game up at 1-1.
The game entered sudden-victory overtime, and the Deacons controlled most of the chances in the first 10-minute period. Wake Forest earned two penalty corners in the span of seven seconds, but the best scoring opportunity came a few minutes later on a breakaway from Charly Bruder. Unfortunately for UNC, Bruder missed the cage and play went on.
In the second overtime, Wake Forest earned another penalty corner and finally converted off the stick of Mia Schoenbeck, giving the Deacons the 2-1 win.
The two teams finished with a combined 43 shots (22 for Wake Forest, 21 for UNC) and 18 penalty corners (nine apiece). Wake Forest’s 22 total shots are more than Carolina had allowed in its previous three matches combined. UNC’s previous high for shots allowed this season was 10.
The loss snaps UNC’s 24-game regular-season winning streak and its 18-game winning streak against ACC opponents. Overall, Carolina drops to 8-1 and 2-1 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will be back in action when they visit Boston College Sunday at 12 p.m.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications
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