The last four seasons, the UNC and Florida State women’s soccer programs have never failed to disappoint when they met.

Carolina picked up a regular season win in 2018 before losing to Florida State in both the ACC Tournament and NCAA Championship finals. In 2019, the Tar Heels got revenge with a regular season win before the top-ranked Seminoles beat them for the ACC Championship game in abbreviated 2020 season. The teams ended in a draw last season in Chapel Hill, with a 2-2 final in double-overtime.

On Thursday night, though, UNC once again came out on top in the growing rivalry. No. 2 Carolina earned the 2-1 victory on the road at No. 4 Florida State, with the win drawing the Heels into a tie with the Seminoles for first place in the ACC standings.

The game began, however, with Florida State quickly gaining the upper hand. Seminole midfielder Onyi Echegini opened the scoring in the fifth minute, firing a shot past Carolina goalkeeper Emmie Allen. It forecasted a night of heavy offense from Florida State, who became the first team to out-shoot Anson Dorrance’s program so far this season.

After the initial goal, however, Allen prevented any more shots getting past her. The redshirt-freshman recorded three saves during the game.

On the other side of the pitch, the Tar Heels created many chances themselves on offense. A cutting fast-break move and shot from redshirt freshman attacker Ally Sentnor struck a Florida State defender’s arm and earned Carolina a handball penalty in the 32nd minute. Senior Tori Hansen then kicked the ball over Seminoles goalkeeper Cristinia Roque’s head and into the net to tie up the game.

Sentnor’s individual attacking skills were ultimately what created the Tar Heels’ second goal too. After gathering a long pass from the defending third, she dribbled through two defenders and fired a rising, left-footed strike into the upper corner of the goal. The goal was her fourth of the season and her first since mid-September.

It’s too soon to tell whether UNC and Florida State are bound to meet again this season, but the conference tournament is not far away — with the first games slated for Sunday, October 30. In the meantime, the Tar Heels will continue their road trip to end the season, staying in Florida to take on Miami. The penultimate regular season game is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 23, before Carolina travels to Louisville on Thursday, October 27.

 

Photo via The Daily Tar Heel/Samantha Lewis.

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
‹
This Week in UNC Sports: October 5-11, 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. The first full week of October will be relatively quiet until the weekend […]
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 […]
This Week in UNC Sports: September 28-October 4, 2026
After a relatively quiet in week featuring teams on the road or off entirely, plenty of Tar Heel action returns to Chapel Hill this week.
UNC Women's Soccer Jumps to No. 1 in Newest National Coaches Poll
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 […]
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.
›