Freshman Green sparks UNC offense

Anson Dorrance has coached a number of elite players throughout his 33-season reign as North Carolina women’s soccer head coach.

So when he says a player is “to die for,” he’s to be taken seriously.

That’s how Dorrance described freshman striker Summer Green after last Friday’s scoreless tie against Florida, and she lived up to her coach’s billing this weekend at the Notre Dame Adidas Invitational.

Green, named the tournament’s most valuable offensive player, had a goal and two assists on the weekend, and No. 19 UNC (2-1-1) scored its first regular-season goals of the year in wins against Connecticut and Notre Dame.

“(Green) opened her account with one of the most spectacular goals I’ve ever seen … She drilled the ball through the goalkeeper from 35 yards out,” Dorrance said of the forward’s goal in UNC’s 2-0 win Friday against UConn. “It was just one of those SportsCenter finishes.”

Green played all 90 minutes of the team’s season-opening loss to Portland and returned to the lineup after missing last weekend’s two games because of U-17 National Team duty.

“We got back in it, and it kind of just clicked,” she said. “I felt like I wasn’t even gone that much.”

Her return was welcomed by the Tar Heels, who are still without four players due to U-20 national team commitments and whose only two prior goals this season had come in exhibitions.

And her contributions weren’t limited to scoring goals.

The freshman assisted in UNC’s other two goals this weekend, and her creative, attacking style of play makes her fun to watch, Dorrance said.

“She created (the goals) by beating players off the dribble and then Mia Hamm-esque dribbling up the sideline and finding teammates in the box with excellent assists,” he said. “She’s better than I thought. I knew she was going to be good, but I didn’t know she was going to be this good.

“I couldn’t be happier with Summer, and neither could her teammates … She is going to have a spectacular four-year career here.”

But in UNC’s 1-0 win against Notre Dame on Sunday, it was sixth-year senior Maria Lubrano that proved to be the savior.

The Tar Heels outshot Notre Dame 18-3 but didn’t find the back of the net until the midfielder’s goal in the 85th minute.

“You never want to come out from a game you dominated and have nothing to show for it,” Lubrano said. “We had so many shots on goal. So at least it’s coming — finishing them will come as we continue to practice.”

Not to be lost in UNC’s offensive resurgence is the team’s defensive consistency.

Sunday’s shutout was the third consecutive for the Tar Heels, and senior Amber Brooks was selected as the tournament’s most valuable defensive player.

Contact the desk editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.