UNC senior defender Maycee Bell and junior midfielder Sam Meza have each been named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s Players to Watch list at their positions.

Bell was named a second team All-American by United Soccer Coaches in 2021, as well as to the first team All-Atlantic Region and first team All-ACC. A stalwart presence on head coach Anson Dorrance’s back line, Bell started all 17 matches in which she played last season and logged 1,443 minutes. In 13 of those matches, Bell played at least 90 minutes, including three double-overtime matches. She scored two goals (including an overtime game-winner) and collected an assist as a junior. Including her freshman and sophomore seasons, Bell has made 55 starts in 56 games as a Tar Heel.

In addition, Bell was named to the watch list for the Hermann Trophy, which honors the National Player of the Year as determined by the coaches.

Like Bell, Meza is a preseason All-ACC selection for 2022. Meza was named second team All-ACC last season, starting all 16 matches she played at midfielder. Meza scored two goals and collected an assist last season, with a highlight being a game-winning overtime goal against Arkansas.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jerome M. Ibrahim

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 biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Women's Soccer Wins at SMU in First-Ever ACC Meeting
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. 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 […]
UNC Sports: Volleyball, Field Hockey Win; Women's Soccer Falls at Duke
Plenty of UNC Olympic sports teams were in action Sunday, as the field hockey and volleyball teams picked up big wins while the women’s soccer team lost at Duke. In volleyball, the Tar Heels traveled down to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech and came away with their first win against the Yellow Jackets since 2017. […]
UNC Women's Soccer Beats Boston College to Snap Losing Streak
Two late goals from Kate Faasse broke a 1-1 tie and helped UNC beat Boston College 3-1 at Dorrance Field Thursday night. The win snapped a two-match losing streak for the Tar Heels. Bounced back👏#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/2fccJq1rCV — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) October 3, 2025 Carolina took a 1-0 lead thanks to a 39th-minute […]
Strong 2nd Half Not Enough as UNC Women's Soccer Falls at No. 2 Notre Dame
Freshman Lauren Malsom recorded a brace with two goals at No. 2 Notre Dame Wednesday night, but it wasn’t enough to help UNC dig out of an early deficit and the Tar Heels fell 4-3. It’s the team’s second consecutive loss. Malsom’s first goal came in the 39th minute, by which time the Tar Heels […]
UNC Women's Soccer Falls to No. 7 Florida State in Chapel Hill
A second-half goal helped No. 7 Florida State beat UNC 1-0 at Dorrance Field Wednesday night. The loss is Carolina’s first at home this season and snaps a 10-match home winning streak which dates back to the 2024 season. The Seminoles controlled much of the possession in the first half, outshooting the Tar Heels 7-3 […]
Late Goal Helps UNC Women's Soccer Win ACC Opener at Virginia Tech
Olivia Thomas scored a tiebreaking goal in the 87th minute to help UNC escape with a 2-1 victory at Virginia Tech in the ACC opener Thursday night in Blacksburg. Gritty win to open ACC play💪#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/K3bgsVDPNh — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) September 12, 2025 Thomas’ strike capped off a late flurry of scoring […]
UNC Women's Soccer Shuts Out James Madison, Earns 1st Road Win of 2025
Olivia Thomas scored two more goals to earn her second brace in the last three matches as Carolina beat James Madison 3-0 on the road Sunday afternoon. It’s Carolina’s first road win of the season and fifth straight win overall. Successful business trip🤝#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/I1aNERMWke — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) September 7, 2025 Thomas’ […]
UNC Women's Soccer Routs Alabama to Win 4th Straight Match
Kate Faasse scored a pair of second-half goals to help Carolina cruise past visiting Alabama 4-0 at Dorrance Field Thursday night. Big 𝙒 at Dorrance🙌#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/l9crTdTfPl — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) September 5, 2025 Faasse’s two goals came in addition to an assist on UNC’s first goal of the night, a close-range shot […]
Thomas' 2 Goals Help UNC Women's Soccer Beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Olivia Thomas scored two goals and Kate Faasse added another as Carolina won its third straight match Sunday afternoon, beating visiting Wisconsin-Milwaukee 4-1 at Dorrance Field. Sundays are for Tar Heel dubs😏#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/fODdfDKGSi — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) August 31, 2025 Thomas corralled a loose ball in the box and flicked it into […]
UNC Soccer: Men's and Women's Teams Each Pick Up Home Shutouts
Both the UNC men’s and women’s soccer teams were in action Thursday at Dorrance Field, and both teams came away with shutout victories. In the first match of the doubleheader, the women’s team throttled UNC-Greensboro 4-0, scoring two goals apiece in the first and second halves. Freshman Bella Devey opened the scoring in the 19th […]
›