UNC junior midfielder Brianna Pinto will enter Wednesday’s NWSL Draft following the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament in May, following an outstanding career in Chapel Hill.

The Durham native who starred at Jordan High School has scored 29 goals and dished out 16 assists in her three seasons as a Tar Heel, earning First Team All-American status in 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA moved the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments to the spring — which will allow Pinto one final chance to win a national championship before going pro. The women’s event will take place at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary from May 13-17.

Pinto shared a message to her Twitter followers Tuesday confirming the news, saying she believes she has unfinished business.

“To wear the Carolina uniform, learn from a world-class coaching staff and play alongside a group of empowered and resilient women has been a dream come true,” Pinto wrote.

The Tar Heels went 11-1 in the regular season this past fall, with the only defeat coming to Florida State in the ACC title game.

This year’s NWSL Draft will take place virtually on Wednesday, and is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

 

 

Photo via Dakota Moyer

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Santa Clara Ends UNC Women's Soccer's National Title Hopes With College Cup Semifinal Victory
In pursuit of the program’s first national title since 2012, the No. 2 UNC women’s soccer team saw its season come to a crashing halt Thursday night in Cary — as Santa Clara defeated the Tar Heels 3-1 in the College Cup Semifinals. UNC ends the year with a record of 18-2-0 as it suffered […]
Women's Soccer: Four Tar Heels Named to All-Region Team
Four Tar Heels were named Wednesday to the women’s United Soccer Coaches Division I All-Atlantic Team, led by three First Team choices. Midfielder Brianna Pinto, goalkeeper Claudia Dickey and forward Rachel Jones were each named to the First Team, while versatile freshman Talia Dellaperuta earned a spot on the Second Team. Pinto ranks fourth nationally […]
Brianna Pinto Named a Semifinalist for MAC Hermann Trophy
For the second time in her career, UNC junior midfielder Brianna Pinto was selected Tuesday by the United Soccer Coaches and the Missouri Athletic Club as one of 15 semifinalists for this year’s women’s MAC Hermann Trophy — an award recognizing the top player in the country. Pinto has racked up 13 goals and five […]
No. 2 UNC Women's Soccer Blanks Denver in Second Round of NCAA Tournament
The No. 2 seed UNC women’s soccer team began its run in the NCAA Tournament on Friday night in Matthews, North Carolina with a 2-0 victory over Denver in the second round. Abby Allen found the back of the net in the 41st minute to give the Tar Heels (16-1-0) a lead they would ultimately […]
Women's Soccer: No. 2 UNC Rolls to Victory Over Columbus State
Led by two goals from star midfielder Brianna Pinto, the No. 2 ranked UNC women’s soccer team cruised to a 6-0 victory on Tuesday night at Dorrance Field over Columbus State. It took less than four minutes for UNC (15-1-0) to find the back of the net, as Abby Allen took advantage of a great […]
No. 2 UNC Women's Soccer Blanks Villanova
Brianna Pinto scored 30 seconds into the second half on Thursday night at Dorrance Field to lift the No. 2 UNC women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Villanova. The Tar Heels (14-1-0) racked up 16 shots in the match while holding Villanova (2-9-2) to just one for the entirety of the night. UNC […]
Brianna Pinto Named ACC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
UNC junior midfielder Brianna Pinto was selected Tuesday as the ACC Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals in the Tar Heels’ 7-0 win at Tennessee this past Saturday. Pinto and teammate Ruby Grant each had hat tricks against the Volunteers, becoming the first Tar Heel teammates to accomplish the feat […]
Ruby Grant, Brianna Pinto Each Score Hat Tricks as No. 2 UNC Women's Soccer Dominates Tennessee
Both Ruby Grant and Brianna Pinto each scored three times on Saturday in Knoxville to help deliver a commanding 7-0 win on the road against Tennessee. Grant and Pinto became the first Tar Heel teammates to each record a hat trick in the same game since Aja Parsons and Joan Dunlap accomplished the feat back […]
No. 2 UNC Women's Soccer Dominates Delaware in Spring Opener
Talia Dellaperuta scored twice on the road Saturday evening, as the No. 2 UNC women’s soccer team opened its spring season with a dominant 5-0 win at Delaware. It took just over 26 minutes for Dellaperuta to score the opening goal, which would be the only time either team scored in the first half. In […]
Damon Nahas Promoted to UNC Women's Soccer Associate Head Coach
The UNC women’s soccer program announced Friday that current assistant coach Damon Nahas has been elevated to the role of associate head coach. Nahas has worked with the Tar Heels for each of the last five seasons, after head coach Anson Dorrance brought him on staff due to his player development skills at the youth […]
›