On the heels of a six-match winning streak which included a 4-2 win against then-No. 2 Duke, UNC jumped six spots from No. 7 to the No. 1 ranking in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, released Tuesday. It’s the first time the team has been ranked No. 1 since the 2025 preseason poll, when the Tar Heels were defending national champions. The 2026 season is also the 38th in which UNC has been ranked No. 1 for at least one week.

Carolina received four of the poll’s eight first-place votes, with No. 2 Michigan State and No. 3 Vanderbilt splitting the other four. The second-ranked Spartans dealt the Tar Heels their only defeat of the season in August and were No. 1 in the previous week’s poll, but suffered a loss to rival Michigan which dropped them from the top spot.

Elsewhere in the ACC, Duke, Wake Forest and Stanford check in at Nos. 4, 5 and 6. Notre Dame comes in at No. 15, Virginia at No. 16 and Florida State at No. 22. Virginia Tech, Louisville and Clemson also received votes. To see the full poll, click here.

In addition to the No. 1 ranking, UNC’s Lilliah Blum also earned an individual honor as the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Week. Blum scored two goals and recorded an assist in Carolina’s win against the Blue Devils Thursday, which saw the Tar Heels overcome a 2-1 deficit in the second half.

UNC is 9-1 overall and 2-0 in ACC play this season. The Tar Heels are on the road this weekend after a long homestand, visiting No. 16 Virginia in Charlottesville Friday at 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group/Caleb Rothrock

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.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Women's Soccer Wins at Clemson to Remain Unbeaten in ACC Play
A Hope Munson goal in the 37th minute was all No. 1 UNC needed to earn a 1-0 win at Clemson Thursday night. It was Carolina’s first match in 13 days after its fixture at Florida State last week was postponed due to Hurricane Isaias. Found a way 👏#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/x7jvDOWjOy — UNC Women's […]
This Week in UNC Sports: October 12-18
More and more of UNC's winter sports are beginning their seasons as we hit the middle of October, and "crossover season" is upon us.
UNC Soccer, Field Hockey Players Take Home ACC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week Awards
UNC’s Bella Devey and Cali O’Neill were named the ACC’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week Tuesday. For Devey, it’s the third such honor of her career and the second consecutive week she has won it. O’Neill is Defensive Player of the Week for the first time. No surprises here 🤷‍♀️@BellaDevey with her third […]
First-Half Flurry Helps UNC Women's Soccer Dispatch No. 12 Notre Dame
Top-ranked UNC scored three goals in the first half to build an early lead against No. 12 Notre Dame at Dorrance Field Friday night, and the Tar Heels cruised from there to a 4-1 victory. Heels on top!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/SD8Iic7759 — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) October 3, 2026 Reigning ACC Offensive Player of the […]
UNC's Bella Devey Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week for a Second Time
Following a two-goal performance in No. 1 UNC’s 3-1 win at No. 16 Virginia Friday evening, Bella Devey has been named the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Week. It’s the second time this season Devey has earned the honor and the second consecutive week a Tar Heel has taken it home, after Lilliah Blum did […]
Photo Gallery: UNC Women's Soccer vs. Alcorn State
UNC beat Alcorn State 5-0 at Dorrance Field Sunday afternoon. Check out Caleb Rothrock's photo highlights from the match!
This Week in UNC Sports: September 21-27, 2026
This series of posts will be made weekly on Chapelboro with a full schedule of UNC sports contests, both in Chapel Hill and elsewhere. Note that game times and broadcast information are subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors. It’s a lighter week for UNC sports as we approach the end of […]
UNC Sports: Women's Soccer Wins; Men's Soccer, Field Hockey Both Lose
It was a busy weekend across the UNC sports spectrum, as both soccer teams and the field hockey team were in action late Saturday and early Sunday. The women’s soccer team continued its hot streak with a blowout win, while the men’s soccer and field hockey teams each suffered conference losses. The men’s team took […]
Second-Half Comeback Helps UNC Women's Soccer Beat No. 2 Duke in Chapel Hill
In front of the second-largest crowd in program history, UNC scored three unanswered goals in the second half to overcome a 2-1 deficit and beat No. 2 Duke 4-2 at Dorrance Field Thursday night. It was the Blue Devils’ first loss of the season and the Tar Heels’ first win of the season against a […]
This Week in UNC Sports: September 14-20, 2026
The upcoming week offers several high-caliber matchups for multiple UNC teams both at home and on the road.
›