The UNC women’s soccer team battled to a tie with the top-ranked team in the country on Thursday night, drawing 2-2 with Florida State.

The Seminoles, who are the defending national champions, had yet to lose or tie through 14 games coming into their match with the Tar Heels. Florida State jumped out to an early lead, with sophomore Beata Olsson scoring a long-distance goal shortly after the first minute.

But 30 minutes later, Carolina’s Isabel Cox struck back with a low, left-footed shot off an assist from freshman Emily Murphey. The junior forward later put the Tar Heels ahead in the second half, scoring from a cross during a fast-break attack. Florida State’s Olsson, though, scored her own second goal of the match minutes later.

The game progressed to double overtime without another shot finding the back of the net — despite close attempts from both teams. Cox saw one of her headers in the waning moments of the game saved by the Seminoles goalkeeper Cristina Roque to keep the game level.

The draw means UNC head coach Anson Dorrance and his program continue their streak of being unable to topple Florida State when games go into extra time. Carolina has lost three games and tied four with the Seminoles since 2008 that have gone past regulation.

Still, Dorrance credited his team’s ability to battle back Thursday night, pointing to Cox’s individual scoring efforts as being indicative of her best week of practice yet.

“I’m so proud of her,” he said after the match. “The qualities that separate her are her pace and ability to beat people off the dribble. The area she has to invest in to become the elite player she can be is to finish chances…so today was an exclamation point.”

Thursday’s match, held at Dorrance Field, was dedicated to mental health awareness. UNC players hung handmade signs around the stadium to promote encouraging messages and affirmation, while also keeping three seats on their bench empty to recognize students who recently died by suicide.

Carolina’s final home game of the season will be held later this weekend. The Tar Heels host Notre Dame on Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

Photo via UNC Athletics Communications.

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