That was until Friday , when the Tar Heels took a major step toward replacing Friend’s offensive production.
Alex Moore , who led the University of Southern California in scoring as a freshman last year, announced her transfer to UNC for the upcoming season. After recording 35 goals and 11 assists for the Trojans, Moore is expected to help fill the void Friend left behind.
“Carolina has such a reputation for being great that I just want to come in, work my hardest and do whatever I can to help this team,” Moore said. “If they need me to score goals, then I can help with that, but I’m really just ready to start playing and contribute in any way that I can.”
Coming out of high school, Moore was expected to contribute right away — Inside Lacrosse even named her one of the nation’s top 25 incoming freshman. This came on the heels of her breakout junior year for Allentown High, when she set the New Jersey single-season scoring record.
Despite excelling early on at Southern California, Moore decided to transfer for academic reasons. She plans to become a licensed nurse after college, and Moore said transferring would be the best way for her to get the degree she wants.
“I committed to USC when I was relatively young, and so while I had an idea that I wanted to do something in the medical field, I wasn’t sure exactly what,” Moore said. “I wanted to set myself up for a bright future in nursing and continue to play lacrosse at the same time, and I’m lucky enough that UNC could offer me both of those opportunities.”
For the Tar Heels, Moore’s proficiency for scoring goals will be a welcome addition.
After the Trojans struggled with injuries and a lack of depth last season, Moore’s ability to play both attacker and midfielder can only help an already talented team.
