Three freshmen, Lindsay Tarpley, Kendall Fletcher and Lori Chalupny, all fresh from stints with the U.S. under-19 national team, helped the Tar Heels defeat Washington 5-1 Sunday on Fetzer Field in the Carolina/Nike Classic.
But the new players, who were substituted about 28 minutes into Sunday's match, weren't without leadership.
Sophomore Mary McDowell opened scoring for the Tar Heels (4-0-1) about 30 minutes into Sunday's game with a shot to the left far corner, past the diving outstretched right hand of Husky goalkeeper Lisa Brookens.
Following the first goal, the new freshmen delivered as expected. Tarpley headed the second goal in off an assist from junior Jordan Walker, and less than a minute later, Fletcher scored the third of the game off an assist from Chalupny.
Washington (3-1) finally notched a point on the board with less than 12 minutes remaining in the game when UNC committed an own-goal.
UNC's depth, plus the fact that Washington had a more challenging game Friday night, helped the Tar Heels seal the win. The Huskies beat Duke 4-2 in overtime Friday. The Tar Heels stampeded past Division III Guilford College with a 9-0 win Friday night.
But the depth promotes constant competition among the Tar Heel starters.
"That gives us a wonderful standard for competition because now every girl knows that if she doesn't focus or doesn't commit herself, then someone else is going to take her spot," said coach Anson Dorrance.
Although Washington was without its starting goalkeeper Hope Solo, who played with the U.S. national team Sunday, coach Lesle Gallimore attributed the team's performance to other factors.
