The win on Friday night was familiar, but the cast bore little resemblance to 2009.
On the same field where it won the 2009 national title, North Carolina beat Texas A&M 3-0 with a very different lineup.
Seven key members of last year’s squad have moved on to the Women’s Professional Soccer ranks, among them a three-time All-American, two ACC female athletes of the year and the 2009 title match’s game-winning goal scorer.
In all, only four starters return from a year ago, and the task of replacing a senior class that won three national titles and four conference crowns is one that coach Anson Dorrance admits is one of the toughest in his 32-year tenure with the program.
“We’re hoping that between the kids we’ve got coming back and the kids we’ve recruited, we can form a team that will eventually be able to compete,” Dorrance said. “But we have no illusions about immediately replacing players like (Casey) Nogueira, (Tobin) Heath and (Whitney) Engen. It’s just not going to happen.”
Despite extensive losses, the Tar Heels retained the team’s most veteran leader, senior Ali Hawkins, who enters her third season as captain.
“To have Hawkins’ experience coming back to lead a young team is a wonderful benefit for us, but also for the young kids we have,” Dorrance said, indicating that only one player has ever worn the UNC captain’s armband longer than she has.
Hawkins and fellow senior Meghan Klingenberg are among three returning starters in a formidable midfield for the Tar Heels, along with sophomore Amber Brooks, who appeared in all 27 games as a freshman, including 15 starts.
Brooks grew to be one of UNC’s top players by season’s end, Dorrance said, and the holding midfielder looks poised for a breakthrough campaign in 2010.
“Her improvement from being a reserve early in the year… to one of my best starters from the ACC Tournament through the NCAA Tournament is indicative of her potential as a player,” Dorrance said.
Sandwiching the midfield group in Dorrance’s 3-4-3 outfield formation are two less certain elements.
Up top, leading returning scorer Courtney Jones and fellow junior Brittani Bartok will spearhead the striking contingent, while underclassmen Alyssa Rich and Kealia Ohai will add plenty of speed.
