Carolina had no trouble with visiting Rice at Dorrance Field Sunday afternoon, shutting out the Owls 4-0 and dominating in every facet of the match.

Olivia Thomas opened the scoring in the 10th minute, spinning past her defender and firing a left-footed shot into the back of the Rice net for her second goal of the season. The Tar Heels doubled the advantage late in the first half off an own goal by the Owls, as a Rice defender inadvertently tapped in a cross through the box from Thomas.

Linda Ullmark and Eres Freifeld each scored in the second half, capping off the win. For the match, UNC outshot the Owls 23-2 and held a 6-1 edge in shots on goal. UNC goalie Hannah Johann saved Rice’s only attempt on target.

UNC is now 2-2 overall and has outscored opponents 9-0 in two home matches this season, though the Tar Heels have been outscored 4-0 themselves in two road matches. Sunday’s match was the first of a four-match homestand for Carolina, who will host UNC-Greensboro at Dorrance Field Thursday at 4 p.m.

Later that night, the men’s team took the pitch for the second time this season and once again emerged victorious, beating Seattle University 2-1.

As in the team’s first game of the season, the Tar Heels overcame an early deficit after the Redhawks went ahead 1-0 in the 23rd minute. Carolina evened the score late in the first half after earning a penalty kick, which Nacho Abeal coolly converted. It was the second goal in as many matches for the graduate transfer.

UNC kept up the momentum in the second half, outshooting Seattle 8-2 and taking the lead for good on a goal by San Francisco transfer Gabriel Bracken Serra in the 65th minute. The Tar Heels threatened to add on in the ensuing minutes before Seattle nearly equalized with its best chance of the half. Fortunately for Carolina, goalie Andrew Cordes was up to the task and made the save, and the Redhawks wouldn’t have another shot in the final 15 minutes.

Carolina is now 2-0 on the young season and will be back in action when it hosts Evansville at Dorrance Field Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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