No. 7 Virginia storms back from two goals down to defeat No. 2 UNC in ACC battle

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 7 Virginia women’s soccer team (8-0-1, 1-0-0 ACC) opened ACC play with a furious rally, scoring three second-half goals to take down No. 2 North Carolina (7-2-0, 0-1-0 ACC) by a score of 3-2 at Dorrance Field on Saturday.

It’s Virginia’s win over UNC since the 2014 season and the fifth in program history over the Tar Heels.

“I’m really proud of the team, not just that we got the result, but more because we dug down deep to fight our way back in it and we played the kind of soccer we needed to in order to create the chances we needed to score,” said Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “Anyone that follows the game knows how difficult it is to win at North Carolina let alone being down by two goals at halftime. They put such pressure on you for 90 minutes; it was good to see us execute the way we did in the second half.”

The Tar Heels built a 2-0 first half lead behind goals from Emily Murphy (14′) and Ally Sentnor (25′), with Avery Patterson recording assists on both of them.

Trailing by two at the half and held without a shot through the first 45 minutes, the Cavaliers came out in the second half looking to chip away and get back into the match. That moment presented itself in the 54th minute when Rebecca Jarrett scored the first of what would be three goals in less than 20 minutes for the visiting team.

54' | UNC 2, UVA 1

Rebecca Jarrett creates her own opportunity and finishes to get the Hoos on the board with the left-footed shot.#GoHoos?⚔️? | #ALLIN⚽️? pic.twitter.com/6jGwpMBwvv

— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) September 17, 2022

The Jarrett goal that sparked the rally came after she cut in along the top of the box from the right side, creating her own opportunity as she dribbled past a pair of defenders and turned for the left-footed shot near the circle. The forward slotted it in back past the near post on the ground.

The Hoos tied it up in the 61st minute when Godfrey’s service off a corner was headed back toward the top of the box by a UNC player. The ball didn’t clear the box and Lacey McCormack headed it back toward goal where Alexa Spaanstra finished it with a header of her own flicked in for the equalizer.

61' | UVA 2, UNC 2

TIE IT UP ALEXA SPAANSTRA!

Lia Godfrey's corner isn't cleared with a header and Lacey McCormack flicks a header toward frame that Spaanstra finishes!#GoHoos?⚔️? | #ALLIN⚽️? pic.twitter.com/7rUx3lGruo

— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) September 17, 2022

Virginia moved in front in the 72nd minute when Maggie Cagle received the ball out wide on the left side and dribbled in toward the box before laying it off to Lia Godfrey near the circle. Godfrey took the strike and slipped it in past the near post for what proved to be the deciding goal.

Cagle ➡️ Godfrey ➡️ ?

Down go the No. 2 Tar Heels behind a second-half rally as the Hoos score three and Lia Godfrey hits the game winner!#GoHoos?⚔️? #ALLIN⚽️? pic.twitter.com/UxGBjpKNMs

— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) September 18, 2022

Virginia will continue to play on the road next week, continuing ACC action at No. 6 Notre Dame in a 7 p.m. contest on Thursday (Sept. 22).

GOALS
14’ – UNC: Emily Murphy (Avery Patterson)
25’ – UNC: Ally Sentnor (Avery Patterson, Sam Meza)
54’ – UVA: Rebecca Jarrett (unassisted)
61’ – UVA: Alexa Spaanstra (Lacey McCormack)
72’ – UVA: Lia Godfrey (Maggie Cagle)