A trio of goals flipped Friday night’s match in UNC women’s soccer’s favor, as the No. 1 Tar Heels rode a wave of offense in the first half to win on the road 3-1 vs. No. 16 Virginia.
In their first game returning to the top ranking in the country, Carolina used two scores from sophomore forward Bella Devey to quickly seize control. She received a pass in the goalkeeper’s box from senior Lilliah Blum, who dispossessed a Cavalier in the attacking third, and fired a one-timer right-footed shot past the Virginia keeper to make it 1-0 in the ninth minute.
Just 30 seconds later, she found the back of the net again. After Virginia turned the ball over from play resuming, UNC junior defender Bella Gaetino sent a long aerial pass upfield to Devey, who dashed past a defender to collect it and slot the ball to the goalkeeper’s right again. The goal marked Devey’s third brace of the season and 12th goal.
Carolina earned its third goal just two minutes later, with a Virginia defender committing a handball in the keeper’s box and the referee awarding an automatic penalty kick. Grad student and midfielder Summer Denigan stepped up and finished off her fifth PK goal of 2026 and eighth overall, just beating the Cavaliers keeper’s outstretched hands to the right side of the net.
While Virginia’s offense picked up momentum after the opening 12 minutes, the Tar Heel defense limited their success. The lone goal by the home team came in the 55th, after a Carolina handball similarly led to Virginia earning and scoring off a penalty kick. Sophomore forward Addison Halpern buried her shot into the bottom right corner, with UNC goalkeeper Hannah Johann staying put in the middle of the goal. Still, Johann finished Friday with a season high five saves.
Friday’s victory is the seventh consecutive for UNC head coach Damon Nehas’ team, the second ranked win of the season, and moved them to 10-1 this fall. Meanwhile, the win also marked Carolina’s first road game vs. Virginia since a 1-0 victory in 2023 and maintains their unbeaten streak in Charlottesville dating back decades. The Tar Heels hold a dominant series lead vs. the Cavaliers of 42-5-5.
Up next for Carolina is a return home and week-long break before hosting Notre Dame on Friday, October 2.
Featured image via UNC Athletics Communications.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
UNC Women's Soccer Begins Play in NCAA College Cup Tonight vs. Washington StateSeeking to end the longest national title drought in the program’s storied history–a drought that goes back to 2012–the UNC women’s soccer team is in San Jose tonight to try and punch its ticket to the NCAA Championship Game. Head coach Anson Dorrance’s Tar Heels (23-1-1) are scheduled to take on the Washington State Cougars […]
![]()
The Morning News: Early Voting, Hedgepeth Trial, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Police Merger?In today's news: early voting begins, the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial continues, and Chapel Hill and Carrboro weigh merging their police.
This Week in UNC Sports: October 12-18More and more of UNC's winter sports are beginning their seasons as we hit the middle of October, and "crossover season" is upon us.
![]()
The Morning News: Hedgepeth Trial, Gas Tax, Google Fiber, and UNC-PittIn today's news: the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial continues, and UNC football gears up to face no. 25 Pitt.
UNC Soccer, Field Hockey Players Take Home ACC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week AwardsUNC’s Bella Devey and Cali O’Neill were named the ACC’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week Tuesday. For Devey, it’s the third such honor of her career and the second consecutive week she has won it. O’Neill is Defensive Player of the Week for the first time. No surprises here 🤷♀️@BellaDevey with her third […]
This Week in UNC Sports: October 5-11, 2026This series of posts will be made weekly on Chapelboro with a full schedule of UNC sports contests, both in Chapel Hill and elsewhere. Note that game times and broadcast information are subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors. The first full week of October will be relatively quiet until the weekend […]
First-Half Flurry Helps UNC Women's Soccer Dispatch No. 12 Notre DameTop-ranked UNC scored three goals in the first half to build an early lead against No. 12 Notre Dame at Dorrance Field Friday night, and the Tar Heels cruised from there to a 4-1 victory. Heels on top!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/SD8Iic7759 — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) October 3, 2026 Reigning ACC Offensive Player of the […]
UNC's Bella Devey Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week for a Second TimeFollowing a two-goal performance in No. 1 UNC’s 3-1 win at No. 16 Virginia Friday evening, Bella Devey has been named the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Week. It’s the second time this season Devey has earned the honor and the second consecutive week a Tar Heel has taken it home, after Lilliah Blum did […]
This Week in UNC Sports: September 28-October 4, 2026After a relatively quiet in week featuring teams on the road or off entirely, plenty of Tar Heel action returns to Chapel Hill this week.
No. 1 UNC Women's Soccer Extends Win Streak to 7 with Road Victory vs. VirginiaA trio of goals flipped Friday night's match in UNC women's soccer's favor, as the No. 1 Tar Heels rode a big first half to win on the road.
›
