Seconds later, a Virginia offender rebounded the ball and attempted to lift a shot over a seemingly out-of-position Branam.
Furiously, the senior backpedaled, leaping just in time to snag the ball.
It's this kind of tenacity that comforts her team and frustrates her opponents.
"The defense knows if a ball is knocked through and a player is chasing after it for the other team, there is a huge risk for that player running through because Branam is coming," said North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance. "And you don't want to get hit by Jenni Branam, trust me. She is like a freight train. She's fearless, and you're going to get hurt more than she is."
But Branam is not immune to scrapes. As a junior, she suffered a shattered kneecap during UNC's regular season game against Duke that required surgery. This season, the injury has given Branam a good deal of trouble, causing her to bench herself from several games.
UNC's 2-1 win against Virginia on Saturday was the first time Branam has seen quality minutes since mid-September. She played less than 40 minutes, a majority of which came in the second half. And on more than one occasion, she spared the Tar Heels from a tie-game situation.
"I love playing again," Branam said. "It's a lot of fun. It's real exciting. I'm having a lot of fun with soccer again. It still hurts, but I'm getting a little more minutes everytime."
The knee became a problem for Branam this season after UNC's 4-1 win against Washington on Sept. 8. Since then, freshman Aly Winget had stepped into the starting role.
"The minutes are in her lap," Dorrance said. "If she wants to play 90 minutes a game, that's her prerogative. Obviously we're going to pay tribute to Aly Winget because of the service she's given us."