Thursday night’s season opener for the sixth-ranked UNC women’s soccer team started out a bit slow as the Tar Heels fell behind the Illinois Fighting Illini 1-0 early in the game, before recovering for three second-half goals to pull out a 3-1 victory.

Although UNC controlled the action for most of the night at Finley Field South in Chapel Hill–outshooting the visitors 21-3–Illinois got on the board first with a goal from midfielder Kelly Maday in the 19th minute.

From there, however, it was all Tar Heels. A header from Brooke Bingham on a corner kick by Annie Kingman tied the proceedings in the 51st minute for UNC, while Madison Schultz converted a prime opportunity in the box to give the Tar Heels a 2-1 lead in the 69th minute.

Only about five minutes elapsed between the second and third UNC goals, as Julia Ashley’s cross found Rachel Dorwart’s head and was then redirected into the back of the net.

The Tar Heel defense continued to clamp down the rest of the way, earning head coach Anson Dorrance the 999th career victory of his Hall-of-Fame career.

Up Next:

UNC will host No. 23 Ohio State in its next game, which will be in Chapel Hill this Sunday at 4 p.m.

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)

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