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

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