UNC Women’s Soccer 2025-2026

[SomeBeach1]

I would expect Dellarose to be on some type of minutes restriction but play in the next game. The last thing she did during warmups was several timed sprints in a row. She did well, but I think playing will be great for game fitness.

Several other things that stand out for me when I think back to the game:


First, UNCG is not at the level of the UNC starters, so it's kind of hard to take a lot from the game. Their goalkeeper, Emma Malone, had a good game and made several really nice saves.

UNCG went with a pretty low point of confrontation, so in general they gave us a lot of space and time until around midfield.

Pennie - Training must have been great. She has very good technical skill. Rarely makes an error. Rarely doesn’t know what she is going to do with the ball before she receives it. She's not my ideal 6, but she's pulling it off so far with her play-making.

Devey and Freifield were fun to watch and clearly better than their defenders. I love their confidence with the ball at their feet, especially when they're taking on their defenders.

Gundry played very high all game, communicated well, good feet, good distribution.

Fasse and OT’s diagonals away from the face of the goal was very effective in taking defender away. Too bad they are allowed "assists" for those runs.


Finally, while I was cooking in the sunshine, Damon sat there with his sweatshirt on the whole game!

 

[Nate1972]

Anson said Pennie was the most improved player on the team this year.

 

[JohnnyYen]

Much improved. I was skeptical because last year she just passed backwards and into pressure all the time. She hardly ever held the ball. But she did well placing herself in pockets. This year, she is turning up field and looking to create. Her ball handling is exceptional, and she works through traffic as well as anyone on the team. Just could use some time in the weight room to become a superstar. Mrs says that it's the jersey - two sizes too big. Like she and Sam Coffey swapped kits.

 

[SomeBeach1]

Someone at the game yesterday did the full "Roy Kent" in describing her play. haha

 

[Jriv23]

That is great news. Has the two players who left to play with the US team back yet? Those two should help with the rotation and depth coming off of the bench.

 

[Lucretius]

That is great news. Has the two players who left to play with the US team back yet? Those two should help with the rotation and depth coming off of the bench.

The U-17 won the first game 2-0. Malsom scored the 2nd goal. Second and final game is tomorrow the 31st. They should be back for Alabama.

 

[BlueHeels02]

Way too casual

 

[BlueHeels02]

Dellarose is checking in

 

[BlueHeels02]

Thomas has had multiple opportunities to pass into a dangerous situation and she has shot it straight at the keeper

 

[UNCH]

This team is embarrassing.

 

[UNCBullMarket]

They aren’t “embarrassing”…that is ridiculous. They outshot their opponents something like 10-1 and had probably 85% of the possession in the first half.

It is disappointing that they haven’t converted that into more goals and the one we conceded was very poorly defended, but to call this group embarrassing tells me you aren’t watching. This is NOT the team that won it all last year, and we have a lot of brand new players (some of whom have never played college soccer before this year) having to play big minutes.

I’m not making excuses for them so far, they have a long ways to go and always have to meet the highest of expectations playing at UNC, but acting like they are hopeless is absurd.

They need to find some urgency though….I think the returning key players have been a little too content and need to learn that they have a target on their back and will get the opponents’ best shot every time out. What we achieved last year has no bearing on this year other than making people just want to beat us even more than usual.

 

[aldusty]

They aren’t “embarrassing”…that is ridiculous. They outshot their opponents something like 10-1 and had probably 85% of the possession in the first half.

It is disappointing that they haven’t converted that into more goals and the one we conceded was very poorly defended, but to call this group embarrassing tells me you aren’t watching. This is NOT the team that won it all last year, and we have a lot of brand new players (some of whom have never played college soccer before this year) having to play big minutes.

I’m not making excuses for them so far, they have a long ways to go and always have to meet the highest of expectations playing at UNC, but acting like they are hopeless is absurd.

They need to find some urgency though….I think the returning key players have been a little too content and need to learn that they have a target on their back and will get the opponents’ best shot every time out. What we achieved last year has no bearing on this year other than making people just want to beat us even more than usual.

Exactly, I keep catching myself by comparing this team to last year’s team and they are not the same. UNC has a lot of talent this year you can see it by their play. They just need to learn to work and play as a team. This team will only get better as the year goes on as they learn each other’s strengths, weaknesses and style of play.

 

[bradarb08]

And if people have been watching, the team is getting better than the first few games. Going to a four back has really helped. It’s going to take a long time for this team to be really good. But definitely not embarrassing.

 

[uncfan1013]

Agreed, people have way too high expectations for a team totally different than last years time. I agree we have talent, but you can’t expect us to be playing like national champions only 4-5 games in with multiple players not available or easing back into the lineup. Might need to remind people we lost basically 7 contributors from last season’s run:

Evelyn Shores > Angel City FC
Maddie Dahlien > Seattle Reign FC
Aria Nagai > Utah Royals
Clare Gagne > KC Current
Emerson Elgin > Boston Legacy FC
Trinity Armstrong > San Diego Wave
Bella Sember > A team in sweden, I’m not completely sure of the name

The first games of the season will definitely be frustrating but calling this team “embarrassing” is really overreacting considering from last year’s roster 6 players are currently playing in the best league.

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Really liked watching Pennie in midfield today. She has a wonderful touch, distributes the ball really well, and rarely loses possession. I love super technical players like her who do not always get a lot of recognition, but do so many little things to help their teams win games. Coaches know how important they are.

 

[AlWoodfor2]

Agreed, people have way too high expectations for a team totally different than last years time. I agree we have talent, but you can’t expect us to be playing like national champions only 4-5 games in with multiple players not available or easing back into the lineup. Might need to remind people we lost basically 7 contributors from last season’s run:

Evelyn Shores > Angel City FC
Maddie Dahlien > Seattle Reign FC
Aria Nagai > Utah Royals
Clare Gagne > KC Current
Emerson Elgin > Boston Legacy FC
Trinity Armstrong > San Diego Wave
Bella Sember > A team in sweden, I’m not completely sure of the name

The first games of the season will definitely be frustrating but calling this team “embarrassing” is really overreacting considering from last year’s roster 6 players are currently playing in the best league.

This, that is a lot of talent lose in one season. Will take a few matches for the younger class to start jelling together.

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

Another fine showing by our student athletes

 

[Jriv23]

Yeah, I agree with all the comments. We lost a lot of players last year that have moved on. This team has a lot of youngsters on it and it is going to take them time to gel and figure things out. Also, they have two players playing for the USA team. TD just got back today and has been out. This team is going to have a target on their back by winning the whole thing last year. That is a given fact. We must have patience, this is the key. They are going to get better each game that they play.

 

[3397char]

Really liked watching Pennie in midfield today. She has a wonderful touch, distributes the ball really well, and rarely loses possession. I love super technical players like her who do not always get a lot of recognition, but do so many little things to help their teams win games. Coaches know how important they are.

Meza -> Nagai -> Pennie: a pretty solid job of reloading the last couple of years in that center midfielder role.

And I totally agree on her great improvement. she just looked like a random reserve last season. She looks like a high quality ACC starter already this season.

 

[Jriv23]

I am so glad for Pennie. I know last year with tough for her at times. I am so glad that she just put her head down and kept grinding as a freshman. I am sure that her teammates kept encouraging her last year. All of the hard work that she put in during the summer is now paying off. She should be proud of herself, because I know that I am. She is a testament of what hard work, sweat, and grit does in the offseason. Go Heels!

 

[Nate1972]

U17 team played Spain to a scoreless draw after winning the first match 2-0. Malsom started both matches, Kennedy started the second, and subbed in in the first. Malsom had a goal in the first.
Group play in the World Cup for the US runs Oct 18-24 with knockout phase to follow if applicable.

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Huge game tonight with undefeated Alabama coming into town. Really don't want to go 0-3 vs the SEC....that conference has already surpassed the ACC in football and basketball, I really don't want to see them taking away the Olympic sports too, especially womens soccer.

Either way, I'm looking forward to a stern test after the last two games that really weren't as close as the scores may have made them appear. They were good to get the team a little bit of confidence back, but games like today's are the ones that are the true barometer of progress and help the players develop way more than blowouts against lesser talented teams.

I wonder if Malsom and Kennedy will be back in time for this one...we need to get some depth back in the lineup fast...we've been playing a lot of players a ton of minutes and that is going to wear on them as the season grinds on. There are not a lot of players coming off of the bench right now that appear to be impactful on the game (certainly not like we have been so used to seeing in the past).

 

[JohnnyYen]

I want to petition either Devey or Alvarez to dye their hair blond. I can't tell them apart on the field.

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

Rain delay. Might be awhile

 

[bradarb08]

I like this 4-2-3-1! This is the formation we used at the end of last year… I hope we keep it if we can put together a full good game with it.

Goal Thomas!

 

[bradarb08]

Goal Faasse! Two great balls from Ullmark leading to both goals on the night so far.

 

[bradarb08]

Goal Faasse! Another great pass from Ullmark! 3-0.

Faasse with five goals in the last three games.

Loving this formation. Hope we stick with it.

 

[bradarb08]

Devey with a deflected long shot goal! 4-0.
Third goal in three games for Devey.

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

Another fine showing by our student athletes

 

[bradarb08]

Should have been a PK with one minute left that wasn’t called. But a great 4-0 over previously unbeaten Alabama!

This was the best we’ve looked all season. Kennedy looked way better in the six having Pennie there with her. Dellarose came in and played left back like she did her freshman year, which kept Kennedy and Pennie at the sixes and then let Devey play her more natural midfield.

Ullmark’s passing was awesome all night. And finishing by Thomas and Faasse was great! And our defensive line looked good. Munson and Gaetino did a great job leaving one of the best goal scorers in the nation with only one chance all game.

 

[aldusty]

Great game, the best they've look all season. They moved the ball well and anticipated their teamates actions all night.

 

[6string]

Ullmark has point guard instincts, love watching her with possession.

 

[UltimateHeel]

Love to see this team coming together and looking more comfortable and confident!

 

[BlueHeels02]

Best game of the season

 

[Nate1972]

I wonder if Devey or Munson has a flip throw in their repertoire.

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for all the information. Great win. Go Heels!

 

[oldeastjl]

Ullmark is the playmaker. Defensively, looked far more settled and less scattered. This was a huge improvement over Georgia and Tennessee.

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Echoing the positive vibes. Best game of the year by far…our young players in the back and in the midfield have come a long way since the first couple of games. We needed a win against a strong team to build some confidence and got it. Now they need to learn how to win away from Chapel Hill.

 

[UNCAlum83]

Now they need to learn how to win away from Chapel Hill.

Get the chance on Sunday at JMU.

 

[Jriv23]

Yeah, I agree with all of the comments. It seems like we are starting to figure things out. I am glad to see the growth in a few weeks. They will just have to keep stacking wins one at a time. We as fans will have to be patience as the youngsters continue to learn and grow which is hard to do as a fan.