Women’s soccer downed twice; men's squad avenge Boston College loss

Two seasons, 1982 and 2000, mark the only years where the North Carolina women’s soccer team lost two straight games. Sunday, the 2009 season was added to the list. 

Following a 3-2 overtime heartbreaker to Florida State on Thursday, UNC fell 1-0 to Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., to give the Tar Heels their third loss in the last five games.

The Miami defeat is only the 10th conference loss in the 34-year history of the program and takes UNC’s record to 12-3-1 (5-3 ACC).

The Tar Heels had already suffered a conference defeat entering their game against the conference-leading Seminoles. Meghan Klingenberg and Jessica McDonald put UNC up 2-1 early in the second half, but FSU scored with five minutes left in the game to send it to overtime.

With only 12 seconds separating UNC from its second tie game of the year, FSU’s Ella Stephan scored a header off a corner to down UNC.

Against the Hurricanes on Sunday, the Tar Heels battled in a defensive struggle. UNC had only two shots on goal, with both Casey Nogueira and Maria Lubrano’s shots going off the post.

In the 80th minute, Miami senior midfielder Beverly Goebel scored an unassisted goal to propel the Hurricanes to a 1-0 lead and the eventual win.

UNC has allowed five goals in its three losses this year, which equals the goals the Heels have allowed in their 12 wins.

But in both years where the Tar Heels lost in consecutive games, they finished the season without another loss and captured the NCAA title.

Men’s soccer 

Two blunders by North Carolina defenders cost the Tar Heels against Boston College.

But against Virginia Tech on Saturday, one UNC defender began to make amends for the unit.

Senior Jordan Graye scored his first career goal, as No. 4 North Carolina defeated the Hokies, 1-0.

The outside back took a pass from midfielder Cameron Brown and shot from the left toward the back post. Va. Tech goalkeeper Stefan Caulfield was unable to deflect the shot, putting UNC on the scoreboard in the 48th minute.

Although Graye hasn’t provided scoring in the past, his goal shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

As a mainstay in the Tar Heel defense, he’s well-known for attacking down the sideline. Usually, he’s feeding teammates on crosses — as evidenced by his two assists this season.

But on this occasion, he took an opportunity for himself and reaped the reward. Against Wake Forest earlier this season, he tried a long-range effort just before the first half ended. His powerful blast was just deflected over the top of the goal.

Still, if anything will be taken from this game, it’ll likely be the re-emergence of the North Carolina defense.

The unit’s effort against BC was not indicative of their strong play all year. But they did rebound admirably in Blacksburg. 

UNC earned its seventh shutout of the season and limited Va. Tech to just two shots. Even more impressive is the fact that freshman keeper Scott Goodwin was the one anchoring the defense — making his first career start in place of the injured Brooks Haggerty.

Goodwin made no mistakes, and neither did the Tar Heel back line.
 

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.