The No. 3 Tar Heels traveled to Blacksburg, Va., to take on No. 9 Virginia Tech on Saturday night. For both teams, it was their first matchup against a top-10 opponent.
Both teams had yet to record a loss this season, and neither looked ready to fall in their first conference game of the season.
But for the Tar Heels, it was Katie Bowen’s play that made the difference in a tight 2-1 victory. In a game where scoring opportunities were limited, her play in the midfield helped her team mount meaningful attacks against the stiff Hokie defense.
The Tar Heels (8-0-1, 1-0 ACC), with the help of Bowen, moved the ball well in the first half, firing seven shots. But it would take a special shot to get past Virginia Tech goalkeeper Kaylyn Smith, who had two saves in the first half.
In the 21st minute, Joanna Boyles delivered that shot, blasting a 25-yard strike into the top corner to give UNC a 1-0 lead.
The Tar Heels took the lead into halftime, but the Hokies (8-1-1, 0-1 ACC) answered less than three minutes into the second half with a goal of their own.
Shots were much harder to come by for UNC in the second half, as the Tar Heels managed just two in the entire period.
But two was all they needed. UNC once again turned to Bowen, and the senior answered with the game-winning goal in the 61st minute.
