The North Carolina women's soccer team defeated Providence, 1-0, on Thursday in the Duke Nike Classic in Durham, remaining undefeated for the season.
What happened?
From the start of the game, it was clear the No. 3 Tar Heels (4-0-1) were determined to win. In the first half alone, UNC took nine shots. Approaching the 40th minute, the game was stagnant at zero goals apiece. It was then that senior defender Julia Ashley gave her team the lead with a powerful shot off a rebound that found the back of the net.
The extreme heat at Koskinen Stadium forced head coach Anson Dorrance to use six substitutes in the first half alone.
Even though the second half brought no scores for either team, North Carolina was able to attempt 10 shots against Providence (3-1-0), while the Friars only managed three shots.
With 17:14 remaining in the second half, senior midfielder Dorian Bailey suffered a nosebleed, bringing on an injury timeout. After the injury occurred, there was no momentum for either side and the Tar Heels hung on for the 1-0 win. UNC managed 19 shots in the victory, including eight on target.
Who stood out?
Sophomore forward Alessia Russo and Ashley stood out the most this game. Russo’s attempted shot was blocked by the Providence goalkeeper, who was unable to hold onto the ball.
The goalie's mistake allowed Ashley to score off the rebound and bring the Tar Heels the victory. In addition to the goal, Ashley had two more shots on target. Russo had just returned from the FIFA U20 World Cup and she kept up her form from the tournament in France.
