A goal from freshman Bella Devey in the 30th minute was all UNC needed to earn a 1-0 win against NC State in the regular-season finale at Dorrance Field Thursday night. The Tar Heels have won six of their last seven meetings with the Wolfpack.

Devey’s goal, her fourth of the season and first in nearly two months, proved to be the deciding factor in what was a defensive struggle. The Tar Heels and Wolfpack combined for just five shots on target across 90 minutes, with Carolina’s defense limiting NC State to only one. That lone opportunity came in the 57th minute, when UNC goalkeeper Hannah Johann stopped the Wolfpack’s Mana Nakata. It was NC State’s best chance of the night. The one shot on goal is the fewest UNC has allowed in an ACC game this season.

Thursday’s win improved Carolina to 12-6 overall and 6-4 in ACC play, but the Tar Heels will miss the ACC Tournament for just the second time in program history. The conference tournament features only the top six finishers in the league; UNC finished in seventh place with 18 points (three points per win), two points behind sixth-place Louisville, which finished 6-2-2 in league play (a draw is worth one point).

Carolina will now await its NCAA Tournament draw. The selection show is scheduled for Monday, November 10.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Soccer on Twitter


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.