After losing for the first time all season last week at Arkansas, the fourth-ranked UNC women’s soccer team responded in a big way Saturday night with a 3-0 road victory against No. 20 Louisville.

Alessia Russo scored twice, while Alexis Strickland also found the back of the net to give the Tar Heels (8-1-0, 1-0 ACC) a win in their ACC opener.

On the other side, Louisville fell to 7-1 overall and 0-1 in ACC play following its first loss of the season.

Russo’s goal in the 22nd minute proved to be all the offense the Tar Heels would need after posting their seventh shutout through nine games this season. Strickland made it 2-0 when she scored in the 67th minute, with Russo adding her second goal soon after in the 81st.

For Russo, a junior, this was her 12th career game-winning goal and 21st overall.

UNC ended the match with seven shots on goal compared to only four for Louisville.

Up Next:

The Tar Heels return home for their next match, which is set for Thursday against NC State at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

Related Stories
‹
Winning Streak Extended to Eight Games as No. 1 UNC Women's Soccer Downs Louisville
A flurry of goals in the second half spurred the top-ranked UNC women’s soccer team to a 3-1 road victory on Thursday night over the Louisville Cardinals. The win keeps the Tar Heels unbeaten this season, as they improve to 8-0-0 and finish their regular season road schedule without a blemish. Louisville (4-4-0) took the […]
Women's Soccer: No. 3 UNC Tops Louisville in Battle of ACC Unbeatens
In a matchup of two teams yet to lose in conference play this season, the No. 3 UNC women’s soccer team cruised to a 5-1 blowout over the Louisville Cardinals at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Alessia Russo and Taylor Otto each scored twice for the Tar Heels, with Dorian Bailey adding the other goal […]
Saturday's Women's Soccer Match Between UNC and Louisville Moved to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary
UNC announced Monday that its women’s soccer match against Louisville scheduled for this Saturday has been moved from Finley Fields South in Chapel Hill to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. The reasoning behind the move is because Finley Fields South is still damaged from the effects of Hurricane Florence. UNC was also forced to play […]
Women's Soccer: Tar Heels' Winning Streak Ends in Scoreless Draw vs. Louisville
Having extended its winning streak to eight entering Sunday morning’s match against Louisville, the fifth-ranked UNC women’s soccer team was among the hottest teams in America. After struggling in a scoreless draw against the Cardinals at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, the Tar Heels saw that streak go by the wayside. UNC (12-2-1, 8-0-1 ACC) […]
UNC Women's Soccer Releases 2026 Regular Season Schedule
The UNC women’s soccer program released its schedule for the 2026 regular season Monday, which includes matches across seven states and two countries. Mark your calendars, the 2026 schedule is here 👏 Ticket information coming soon!#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/D0FR4zWhkb — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) July 20, 2026 UNC begins with a preseason exhibition against South Carolina at […]
The Morning News: Rani Dasi to County Commissioner, Mandarin Dual Language at CHCCS
In today's news: CHCCS board member Rani Dasi is nominated for an open seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
UNC Soccer and Lacrosse Venue Christened Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium
Dorrance Field, the home venue for the UNC soccer and lacrosse programs, has expanded its name to Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium. The expanded name comes in recognition of a gift from Kathleen Welsh and Gary Loveman, parents of two former UNC women’s soccer players. UNC describes Play2Dream as “a private family foundation” founded […]
UNC Women’s Soccer Recruit Maddie DiMaria Named National Player of the Year
Maddie DiMaria, who will join the UNC women’s soccer program as a true freshman this coming fall, has been named the 2025-26 Gatorade National Player of the Year in Girls’ Soccer. This is the second time DiMaria has won the honor; she also took it home for the 2023-24 season. Playing at Cor Jesu Academy […]
Multiple UNC Teams Post Perfect Academic Progress Rates, New Report Says
Several UNC sports programs posted perfect single-year and multi-year academic progress rates for the 2024-25 academic year, according to the NCAA’s latest report. Academic progress rate (APR) is used to track performance of scholarship students who compete on varsity teams, and the score measures eligibility and retention each semester. A perfect score is 1000, and […]
UNC Women's Soccer to Play Exhibition Match August 28 in Ireland
More than one UNC football team will be making the journey to Ireland this August. The UNC women’s soccer team will play an exhibition match against Shelbourne FC Friday, August 28 in Dublin, the day before the Tar Heel football team faces TCU in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Luck of the Heels […]
›