The UNC women’s soccer game on Thursday night is catching attention for several reasons.

One reason, of course, is the Tar Heels are matching up with the top-ranked team in the country and reigning national champions: Florida State. Another, though, is that the team is dedicating their efforts to better discussion and awareness of mental health.

The women’s soccer program shared a statement Wednesday night ahead of the game, saying the team aims to shine a light on mental health struggles in the wake of recent tragedy among the UNC campus community.

“This semester, our campus has grieved the loss of three students who died by suicide,” read the team release. “We don’t want to wait for any more tragedies to happen to start talking about mental health.”

On October 9, UNC Police responded to and reported a student dying by suicide near a first-year dorm. Hours later, another attempted suicide in a student residence was reported to the department, with that individual be reported dead in the following days. The news came after reports of another student dying by suicide in the area of the Forest Theater in early September.

Since then, university leadership announced the school will hold a summit in the coming weeks for students, faculty and mental health experts to discuss the ongoing crisis and strain being experienced on college campuses, including UNC. The school also shared plans to launch a campus-wide mental wellness campaign to improve awareness and openness of struggles.

On Thursday, the women’s soccer team said it will be reserving three seats on its bench to honor the three UNC students lost this fall semester. Players will also hang dozens of posters with encouraging messages they’ve written around the stadium. Additionally, there will be green decorations, like streamers, sidewalk chalk and accessories, since green is the color designated for mental health awareness.

Fans and visitors to the game will also have a chance to participate, according to the team. A table with balloons will be set up at the stadium entrance, with fans invited to blow up and tie balloons around the field’s fence.

“As a program,” said Wednesday’s team statement, “we want to send the message that you are loved, you are worthy, you matter, and the world is a better place with you in it. Mental health IS health and mental health is treatable. Everyone is going through their own battles daily and you don’t have to suffer in silence. You are never alone.”

The Tar Heels match against No. 1 Florida State is set to begin at 8 p.m. To read the team’s full release about dedicating the game to mental health awareness, visit the Carolina Athletics website.

 

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255.

UNC students can contact UNC Counseling and Psychological Services at the 24-hour phone line at 919-966-3658.

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
‹
UNC Confirms Student Death in Residence Hall 1 Week Before Classes Ended
While the UNC campus community is celebrating its last day of classes on Friday, details are emerging of a tragedy that took place one week before. A student death was reported in Thomas Ruffin Jr. Residence Hall on the morning of Friday, April 21, according to UNC Police’s crime log. WRAL first reported the student […]
UNC Women's Soccer Scores Most Goals Since 2019 in Win vs. Quinnipiac
UNC’s Bella Devey recorded a hat trick in less than 15 minutes to help the Tar Heels on their way to an 8-0 win against Quinnipiac at Dorrance Field Sunday. The eight goals are Carolina’s most in a single match since 2019. Heels are 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 👏#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/hHYDCWkCjK — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) August […]
UNC Women's Soccer Beats Fairfield in 2026 Season Opener
Sophomore defender Hope Munson bagged the first two goals of her collegiate career in the first half as UNC defeated Fairfield 4-0 at Dorrance Field in the 2026 season opener Thursday night. Game 𝙒𝙊𝙉 😏#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/VWOUvguLeH — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) August 14, 2026 Munson collected her brace in just over a half […]
UNC Women's Soccer Picked 5th in ACC; Bella Devey Named Preseason All-ACC
UNC has been picked to finish fifth in the ACC’s preseason women’s soccer poll, which was released Monday. The Tar Heels were one of five teams to receive at least one first-place vote. Notre Dame sits in first place in the poll with seven of 17 first-place votes, while No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Duke […]
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 […]
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 […]
UNC Women's Soccer's Season Ends in Penalty Shootout in NCAA Tournament Round of 16
UNC couldn’t hold on to a 1-0 lead late in the second half Monday afternoon, and No. 2 seed TCU scored a 90th-minute equalizer before winning on a penalty shootout to end the Tar Heels’ season. Carolina had dominated possession for much of the match, holding decisive leads in both total shots and shots on […]
›