Tar Heels Falter Early, Rebound to Top State

The Tar Heels defeated N.C. State

4-2, despite quickly falling behind to the Wolfpack.

N.C State jumped on UNC in the game's second minute when Lindsey Underwood surprised the Tar Heels, pounding in a corner kick from teammate Lauren Bendahan.

It was only the second time UNC

(15-0, 6-0 in the ACC) trailed all season.

"We couldn't get freaked out the first minute of the game because that wouldn't do any good," said senior midfielder Jena Kluegel. "They're very tough; they're hard. They have a great mentality, and they made it hard for us to play our game, and that's a credit to them."

Other than a 15-minute stint in the first half, the Tar Heels never found their groove.

Kluegel danced around a triple-team on the left sideline to set up Anne Remy for the Tar Heels' first goal of the game in the 10th minute.

Kluegel finished the game with two assists and one goal.

"Jena has the potential to be just a remarkable player at another level," said UNC coach Anson Dorrance. "That one assist she got was virtually the creation of the goal."

North Carolina, which boasts the nation's top scoring offense and third-ranked defense, scored two more first-half goals.

After Kluegel scored her goal in the 30th minute, sophomore forward Elizabeth Ball put the Tar Heels up 3-1.

Ball spotted Danielle Borgman charging down the right sideline. She connected with Borgman's centering pass, and slipped the ball past Wolfpack goalkeeper Gretchen Lear.

"Anson's big thing is you always have to beat the player, get in front of the player," Ball said. "Once I saw Borgman cross, I knew I had to get in front, and luckily it went in. As long as we're focused, I think this team's capable of doing almost anything."

With the victory, the Tar Heels remained the nation's only undefeated team.

Dorrance said, "We've given up two goals in one other game this year, so for them to score two is a tremendous credit to their effort and intensity."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.