Strong Second Half Not Enough In Setback To #2 UNC

Thursday, September 24

Chapel Hill, NC

7 pm

Syracuse University

4-6-1,ACC 0-2-0

North Carolina

9-0-1,ACC 2-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Syracuse	0	1	1
North Carolina	2	1	3

Strong Second Half Not Enough In Setback To #2 UNC

9/24/2015 9:35:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- Sophomore Sheridan Street pulled the Syracuse women's soccer team within one goal against No. 2 North Carolina on Thursday night, but the Orange was unable to tame the potent Tar Heels' offense, losing by a final score of 3-1 on a rainy night in North Carolina.

After trailing 2-0 headed into the second half, Street offered Syracuse (4-6-1, 0-2 ACC) the spark it needed, pulling the Orange within one goal at the 54-minute mark. No. 2 North Carolina (9-0-1, 2-0 ACC) utilized some stellar play from Jessie Scarpa to pull away with the win, as Scarpa tallied both a goal and assist in the victory.

The Tar Heels outshot the Orange 23-5 in the contest, including 12 shots on target compared to only two from 'Cuse. The Orange applied some solid pressure in the second half, booting four shots toward the net, including the goal from Street.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult environment to play in," head coach Phil Wheddon said. "We have tremendous respect for North Carolina, but we gave them too much room in the first half and they made us pay on two costly mistakes."

Sophomore Courtney Brosnan registered a season-high nine saves in net to keep the game close for Syracuse. North Carolina goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin made only one save while allowing the lone Orange goal.

North Carolina manufactured its first two goals in a span of six minutes in the first half, starting with a score from Alexa Newfield in the 24th minute. Newfield collected the ball from Summer Green outside the box, bending it around Brosnan for the game's first goal. The Tar Heels delivered again in the 30th minute, working the ball inside the Syracuse box with some nifty passing before Dorian Bailey put it home, extending the UNC lead to two.

Syracuse looked like a new team in the second half, applying all sorts of offensive pressure on the Tar Heels. Sophomore Eva Gordon ricocheted a shot off the crossbar in the 54th minute that came down directly on the goal line, but Street was in the right place at the right time to get a foot on it for the goal. The goal from Street and immense amount of rain falling on the pitch made it appear that the Orange had washed away the first half.

The weather seemed to slow the game down, which was a positive for the Orange against the high-strung Tar Heels' offense. With a one-goal lead, North Carolina eventually went back up by two as Scarpa connected on a header to the right corner of the net, giving the Tar Heels a 3-1 lead that would stand up as the final score.

"I thought we were better in the second half and did some good things in attack," Wheddon said. "If we eliminate our first-half mistakes, it's a 1-1 ball game going into overtime. I am pleased with the growth of our team and we will learn from this and be better against a quality Virginia Tech team on Sunday."

The Orange concludes its three-game road trip this Sunday when it takes on #10 Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. Both live video and live stats can be accessed via Cuse.com.

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