A pair of goals from sophomore defender Caitlin Mara helped UNC beat SMU 3-0 in Dallas Friday night. It was the first meeting between the two schools as ACC foes.
Mara’s two goals – her first two of the season and the second and third of her collegiate career – came within a span of less than eight minutes of match time early in the first half. The two were near mirror images of each other: on each, Mara connected with a Tessa Dellarose corner kick near the SMU back post, scoring at point-blank range.
UNC would add its third goal of the night in the 79th minute, as Kate Faasse converted a penalty kick to extend the Tar Heel advantage.
Carolina held the Mustangs to just two shots on goal on its way to a clean sheet. UNC hadn’t won via a shutout for more than a month, and it was the first time this season the Tar Heels had held an ACC opponent scoreless. Carolina came into Friday’s match having allowed nine goals in its previous four matches.
With the 3-0 win, UNC improves to 10-5 overall and 4-3 in ACC play. Up next for Carolina is its final true road match of the regular season, as the Tar Heels will visit Miami next Thursday, October 23 at 7 p.m.
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.
Related Stories
‹
Brianna Pinto, Rachel Jones Each Named All-Americans by United Soccer CoachesThe United Soccer Coaches revealed their annual All-American teams on Thursday, with UNC’s Brianna Pinto and Rachel Jones each making the cut on the women’s side. Pinto was a First Team selection as a midfielder after finishing the season tied for third nationally with 14 goals while also adding five assists. Thursday’s loss in the […]
Four UNC Women's Soccer Players Named All-AmericansThe United Soccer Coaches revealed their women’s All-American teams on Thursday, with four Tar Heels making the cut this season. Junior forward Alessia Russo, sophomore midfielder Brianna Pinto and junior defender Emily Fox were each named First Team All-American selections, while freshman defender Maycee Bell earned a spot on the Third Team. This marks the […]
UNC Women's Soccer's Season Ends in Penalty Shootout in NCAA Tournament Round of 16UNC 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 […]
UNC Women's Soccer Beats No. 6 Texas Tech in Penalty Shootout, Advances to NCAA Round of 16Carolina went the distance vs. No. 6 seed Texas Tech in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night, defeating the Red Raiders in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. After a scoreless first half in which UNC controlled much of the offensive possession and outshot Texas Tech 5-1, […]
UNC Women's Soccer Upsets No. 3 Tennessee in NCAA Tournament 1st RoundThe national title defense for the UNC women’s soccer program will last at least a little longer. Kate Faasse scored a pair of goals to help the Tar Heels upset No. 3 seed Tennessee in Knoxville Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The 3-1 win avenges a 2-0 UNC defeat at […]
UNC Women's Soccer to Face No. 3 Seed Tennessee in NCAA Tournament 1st RoundThe Tar Heels are back in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, though not in the way many thought. Carolina earned at-large bid to the tournament field Monday afternoon and will play at No. 3 seed Tennessee in Knoxville in the tournament’s first round Friday. Let postseason begin… The Tar Heels will head to Knoxville this […]
UNC Women's Soccer Beats NC State in Regular Season Finale, But Will Miss ACC TournamentA 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. Senior night 𝙙𝙪𝙗#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/67ngEadxO6 — UNC Women's Soccer […]
UNC Sports: Men's Soccer Loses, Women's Soccer Wins, Volleyball Splits Weekend HomestandIt was a busy weekend of Olympic sports for UNC, with the men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball teams all in action. In men’s soccer, the Tar Heels fell at Syracuse Saturday afternoon after the Orange netted a goal in the 36th minute. Carolina pressed for an equalizer hard in the second half, totaling 13 […]
UNC Women's Soccer Loses at Miami on Late GoalA Miami goal in the 77th minute broke a 1-1 tie and sent UNC to a 2-1 defeat Thursday night in Coral Gables. It’s Carolina’s second loss in its last three outings. The two teams played a scoreless first half, despite UNC holding a decisive 6-0 advantage in total shots. The Hurricane goalkeeper stopped both […]
UNC Women's Soccer Wins at SMU in First-Ever ACC MeetingA pair of goals from sophomore defender Caitlin Mara helped UNC beat SMU 3-0 in Dallas Friday night. It was the first meeting between the two schools as ACC foes. Tamed the Mustangs😏#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/CGbL4RLJRo — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) October 18, 2025 Mara’s two goals – her first two of the season and […]
›
