FSU's athleticism, speed and length flashed all night. It clearly bothered us a lot. Disappointing loss but feel like they're just better right now.
UNC Women’s Soccer 2025-2026
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PKs, though, right? I think... I'm pretty sure they haven't scored on a corner. Ullmark went for the olimpico last night and nearly got it. So they're due for a corner goal.
Not penalties, but free kicks. Not corners. We may have scored one off a corner but it was after an initial clear maybe. Definitely nothing like a header or anything off a corner.
I noticed that FSU players were bigger, faster, and have better players across the board than we do. I do realize that losing 5 starters hurt us as far as talent wise where as FSU starters came back. There is the difference IMO. I would have loved to see play them if our five starters would have come back. This team would have had more depth. It just was not meant to be. We just will have to regroup and try to continue to stack wins and build conference along the way. Go Heels!
We have some studs coming in next year as long as they do not decide to go pro. Patience is the key here.
Had to watch the FSU game on recording, but here are my thoughts:
The better team won....but "better" is a loaded word here. As noticed by others here and pretty obvious, they had bigger, faster, stronger talent across the board compared to us. I thought their defending and constant pressure they put on the ball was incredibly disruptive to us. I was really disappointed in how we didn't show composure on the ball so much of that game. Our players over-dribbled into trouble a lot, and made errors passing they don't usually make because FSU was speeding them up. We just didn't handle the pressure well...that is to be expected with such a significant portion of young players in the lineup...but we have to learn from this. On the plus side, we only lost 1-0. I though Gundry made a couple of big saves which will hopefully give her some confidence going forward. It was really frustrating that we left their All American center forward so wide open on that goal, and to her credit she made us pay. That one play was the difference. We had multiple opportunities and did not convert our chances....Thomas had a point blank header that she hit over the goal, and Faase had a shot just go wide near the end of the first half, and got her head on a corner late in the game but couldn't do anything with it. That's soccer...you have to finish when you get the few chances that come along, and we didn't do that.
I'll say this though...despite their wealth of talent and really impressive high pressure defending all over the field, I was not impressed with how they went forward at all. Most of their attack was just lumping long balls forward and hoping Dudley would run them down. I'm sure it works against a lot of teams, but this is why we held them to one goal. I'm just surprised at how primitive/lazy their approach is...it's like a high school team from 25 years ago....it's what I refer to as "kickball" rather than top tier soccer. They have too much talent to play that way in my opinion...thank God they don't have better coaching as far as that goes, or they'd be steamrolling everyone. But hey, everyone has their own style of play, and FSU has the players that allows that direct kind of play to work good enough to win a lot. They are an absolute nightmare on set pieces though because of their size/athleticism. Dudley is a rare talent with her size, speed, technical ability, and composure finishing. It wouldn't surprise me to see her on the USWNT senior team in a couple of years. She's got to stop the flopping garbage though....that's another thing that I really hated about how they played...so many faked "injuries" to draw whistles and kill time. That crap is why I have enjoyed watching the women's game more than the men's game...it would really be a shame if the flopping becomes pervasive in the women's game too. Worst part about soccer by a mile to me.
Munson's stock continues to rise...she's such a massive piece of our back line now, and honestly I think she's outplayed Gaetino back there this year. I didn't even think Munson would play because of the ankle injury she took against VT, but she was great vs FSU. Was the player of the game for us to me, and without her speed back there I'm not sure we would have held up against Dudley & Co. as good as we did.
The team needs to learn from this experience and keep improving. Damon needs to stress more composure on the ball under pressure. We got frantic and tried to get into a track meet kind of game against FSU which is exactly what they wanted. We should have been more patient and controlled possession like I know we can. There were short stretches where we did that and we created chances, but then would revert back to long balls or too much 1v1 and FSU just ate that up.
The better team won....but "better" is a loaded word here. As noticed by others here and pretty obvious, they had bigger, faster, stronger talent across the board compared to us. I thought their defending and constant pressure they put on the ball was incredibly disruptive to us. I was really disappointed in how we didn't show composure on the ball so much of that game. Our players over-dribbled into trouble a lot, and made errors passing they don't usually make because FSU was speeding them up. We just didn't handle the pressure well...that is to be expected with such a significant portion of young players in the lineup...but we have to learn from this. On the plus side, we only lost 1-0. I though Gundry made a couple of big saves which will hopefully give her some confidence going forward. It was really frustrating that we left their All American center forward so wide open on that goal, and to her credit she made us pay. That one play was the difference. We had multiple opportunities and did not convert our chances....Thomas had a point blank header that she hit over the goal, and Faase had a shot just go wide near the end of the first half, and got her head on a corner late in the game but couldn't do anything with it. That's soccer...you have to finish when you get the few chances that come along, and we didn't do that.
I'll say this though...despite their wealth of talent and really impressive high pressure defending all over the field, I was not impressed with how they went forward at all. Most of their attack was just lumping long balls forward and hoping Dudley would run them down. I'm sure it works against a lot of teams, but this is why we held them to one goal. I'm just surprised at how primitive/lazy their approach is...it's like a high school team from 25 years ago....it's what I refer to as "kickball" rather than top tier soccer. They have too much talent to play that way in my opinion...thank God they don't have better coaching as far as that goes, or they'd be steamrolling everyone. But hey, everyone has their own style of play, and FSU has the players that allows that direct kind of play to work good enough to win a lot. They are an absolute nightmare on set pieces though because of their size/athleticism. Dudley is a rare talent with her size, speed, technical ability, and composure finishing. It wouldn't surprise me to see her on the USWNT senior team in a couple of years. She's got to stop the flopping garbage though....that's another thing that I really hated about how they played...so many faked "injuries" to draw whistles and kill time. That crap is why I have enjoyed watching the women's game more than the men's game...it would really be a shame if the flopping becomes pervasive in the women's game too. Worst part about soccer by a mile to me.
Munson's stock continues to rise...she's such a massive piece of our back line now, and honestly I think she's outplayed Gaetino back there this year. I didn't even think Munson would play because of the ankle injury she took against VT, but she was great vs FSU. Was the player of the game for us to me, and without her speed back there I'm not sure we would have held up against Dudley & Co. as good as we did.
The team needs to learn from this experience and keep improving. Damon needs to stress more composure on the ball under pressure. We got frantic and tried to get into a track meet kind of game against FSU which is exactly what they wanted. We should have been more patient and controlled possession like I know we can. There were short stretches where we did that and we created chances, but then would revert back to long balls or too much 1v1 and FSU just ate that up.
Good Question. If I had to guess, FSU took them lightly where as against us, they know our team is for real and legit and they knew they could not sleep on us. They had to bring their A-game. I would could this respect for our soccer team as well as our program.
Tough test tonight for our ladies, on the road at #2 Notre Dame. Let's hope they gained some confidence in recent weeks, even with a close loss to FSU. We could use an explosion of goals from OT and KF, plus Devey and Ullmark getting some goals would be great too!
Need to play with possession, can't give away the balls so easily with inaccurate or lazy passes, and need to play with width even into corners to get crosses and corner kicks.
Our defense has to step up and play well to keep ND from scoring, they scored 3 vs dook last week.
What are you guys thinking?
Need to play with possession, can't give away the balls so easily with inaccurate or lazy passes, and need to play with width even into corners to get crosses and corner kicks.
Our defense has to step up and play well to keep ND from scoring, they scored 3 vs dook last week.
What are you guys thinking?
Yeah, I must admit, this game is going to be a tough one to win; especially on the road. Hopefully, our young ladies will be up for the challenge. Damon needs to pull off the gloves and show these ladies the history of our program and how this program is use to winning, this program is still a top tier program, etc. He needs to be some pride back into this program, they need to come out playing hard, fast, together, play smart, and come out with a chip on their shoulder. As the lacrosse team did last year, we need to cash in the receipts. Hell, get Erin and Jeni to come and give a speech to these young ladies to get them fired up.
Why did Damon change the formation for a game against the highest ranked opponent we’ve faced this season? We have less people in the center and defensively against the best offensive team we’ve played… and you’re asking too much of Devey and Ullmark to make up for empty space on the wing if you want any chance to turn defense into offense.
We fall 3-4.
I don’t think this team gives up 4 goals if we were in the 4-2-3-1 that has been serving us so well and only gave up 1 to FSU in…
This team showed a ton of fight, but remain young. Proud of them battling!
Edit: Us playing in a 4-2-3-1, one loss, three goals allowed. Us playing in a 3-5-2, three losses, EIGHT goals allowed.
I don’t think this team gives up 4 goals if we were in the 4-2-3-1 that has been serving us so well and only gave up 1 to FSU in…
This team showed a ton of fight, but remain young. Proud of them battling!
Edit: Us playing in a 4-2-3-1, one loss, three goals allowed. Us playing in a 3-5-2, three losses, EIGHT goals allowed.
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Played against one of the best teams in the country. Fewer defenders was not the best idea. Also, giving up seemingly a hundred corners did not help either.
Although they lost. The team played hard against the number 2 team in the country on the road. Not having depth is hurting us this year. The freshman are stepping up but a lot of starters are force to play a ton of minutes which hurts us doing crunch time. I know we have players who are not ready but I would at least play them a minute or two in the first half to give the main starters a blow or too. We have some studs coming in next year. I just hope we can keep the majority of the starters who are playing a ton of minutes this year in tack for next year. That just will have to keep fighting each game and the youngsters are gaining valuable experience this year. I am proud of them because they are given it all that they got. Damon tried something different this game and it almost worked, but at least I have to given him credit for at least trying to mix things up.
He was not the head coach for 90% of the recruiting cycle (the two years leading up to signing day) and had only the interim tag for the other 10%. He was named head coach literally after the fall national signing period had ended. Our recruiting class suffered (look at its ranking), but it is hard to blame Nahas for that.
I suspect there are players in this freshman class who would not have been extended a spot on the UNC team if staff had know that a federal court was going to limit roster sizes. That was not knowable during the recruiting cycle.
We could have done better in the transfer portal, but our roster was already maxed out; the only way to do more would have been to run women off the team.
Our Transfer haul:
- GK Brooks - Jamaican nat'l team - started teh season, has since lost the job
- DF Brown - 2nd team All-Ivy - reserve plays in most games.
- GK Maihs - Otero College, International
- MF Bradley - B1G all freshman team, started for UNC early but injured and out for a month now.
But at most we could have added maybe 2 more impact players (which is not nothing)
Here is my basic take on this roster:
After 1 year of turmoil where players transferred out, and 2 years where a total of 16 players went pro, we have been left with a small handful of star players, but a disproportionate number of practice players who cannot compete at a top tier ACC level. Not a huge number, but enough to not have roster flexibility.
In the past, UNC has been able to reload with stellar recruiting classes and youthful team depth waiting in the wings. but a coaching transition year killed recruiting and we did not have enough roster space to patch through the portal. We are now playing with about 5 players who could start anywhere and a bunch of youth that normally would have time to develop at UNC.
To me the biggest hole is no Nagai, Patterson, or Meza in the midfield that can win and maintain possession. our defensive line is reasonably solid (though not as special as recent years) and our forwards have talent obviously. But while we have speed in the midfield, and some attacking ability, We do not have the ball skills and savvy to connect possession from the back to the front. We lose possession against good teams, sometimes putting our defenders in bad situations.
We certainly would have been better with Shores not turning pro late, Bradley available, and Delarose at 100% fitness.
We certainly would have been better with Shores not turning pro late, Bradley available, and Delarose at 100% fitness.
Thanks for that information. Not having Bradley for a month is definitely hurting, Delarose not at 100% is hurting, and Shores turned pro late where Damon and Staff did not have time to absorb that lost. Based on that information from 3397Char, We cannot blame Damon for those things that are out of his control. He is doing the best that he can with what he has got. I know this team has not gotten a signature win yet, but you have to admit, these young ladies are playing hard and tough, they are competing, and they are not getting blown out when we do play the top 7 teams. ND only beat us by 1 goal. FSU score late to beat us. To be in those games and have a chance to win shows what I just stated above and that is all you can ask. We got some studs coming in next year. We have the number 2, 5, 7, and 9 players coming in next year along with some other ones. We will have more depth next year. The freshman that are playing a lot this year will gain more experience and they will get better as sophomores next year. Go Heels!
Devey had a helluva game. You can put her anywhere on the field and she contributes. I don't think we've seen a player as complete in quite a while. Unfortunately, we'll probably be really lucky to see her on Dorrance field next year.
In spite of the burner from outside, I just don't know what OT is doing. She scores, but it just seems like there are a lot of missed opportunities and turnovers due to fundamentals. Wednesday was an unusually bad night. At some point in the second half, he played her like a 3/6 on the left side - it felt to me that he was frustrated and didn't know what to do with her. She made a mess of a tackle out on the wing which led to a goal. Here's my hot take - put Malsom in the 9 or 10 and move OT out to the left - or, dare I say, bring her off the bench to spell Malsom. I don't think I've seen enough of Malsom to really commit to this idea, but she has shown that she can score in the post (a few games ago) and picks up garbage (last night). That's like the combined skillset of OT and Faasse. She just seems productive for her PT.
I don't think this is the fundamental issue with the team at the moment (weak mids). They were not finishing earlier in the season, and it was definitely a problem then. And it's awfully hard to put this out there when OT is tied for the goals lead in the conference. But ultimately, you win games because you put the ball in the net more times than your opponent, regardless of how good your midfield or defense is playing.
In spite of the burner from outside, I just don't know what OT is doing. She scores, but it just seems like there are a lot of missed opportunities and turnovers due to fundamentals. Wednesday was an unusually bad night. At some point in the second half, he played her like a 3/6 on the left side - it felt to me that he was frustrated and didn't know what to do with her. She made a mess of a tackle out on the wing which led to a goal. Here's my hot take - put Malsom in the 9 or 10 and move OT out to the left - or, dare I say, bring her off the bench to spell Malsom. I don't think I've seen enough of Malsom to really commit to this idea, but she has shown that she can score in the post (a few games ago) and picks up garbage (last night). That's like the combined skillset of OT and Faasse. She just seems productive for her PT.
I don't think this is the fundamental issue with the team at the moment (weak mids). They were not finishing earlier in the season, and it was definitely a problem then. And it's awfully hard to put this out there when OT is tied for the goals lead in the conference. But ultimately, you win games because you put the ball in the net more times than your opponent, regardless of how good your midfield or defense is playing.
I love Devey too! Wish she could be on the ball more, love when she carries it forward and shoots.
Ashley frustrates me. While I love the energy and her ball skills are really good, she turns the ball over with lazy passes sometimes, tries to take on multiple players and turns it over and in some cases just gets knocked off the ball as she's on smaller size.
Finally as a team, wish we played wider, dribble up field into open grass then into the corners to get the defense to shift and lose track of players behind them on crosses. Also, would generate more corner kicks. We do this at times, usually more often in the 2nd half of games but need more of it.
Ashley frustrates me. While I love the energy and her ball skills are really good, she turns the ball over with lazy passes sometimes, tries to take on multiple players and turns it over and in some cases just gets knocked off the ball as she's on smaller size.
Finally as a team, wish we played wider, dribble up field into open grass then into the corners to get the defense to shift and lose track of players behind them on crosses. Also, would generate more corner kicks. We do this at times, usually more often in the 2nd half of games but need more of it.
Not sure about that idea to switch up the starting attackers, but Malsom has recently earned consideration for starter level minutes (which she got in the ND game) 3 goals on just 6 shots over the last 4 games combined is pretty darn efficient., although a small sample set. We should have a rotation at the attack that allows her in at multiple positions where everyone is playing around 60 min (perhaps Faasse more with her higher demonstrated fitness.)
I like our starters better on set pieces.
I like our starters better on set pieces.
I believe the team needs to get Fasse on the ball more often. She’s not getting the centering passes that Dahlein used to serve up, and Thomas rarely tries to pass. Perhaps utilize her speed and work rate as a central attacking midfielder?
Faasse hasn't been a creator like Dahlien or Sentnor. Her skillset has always been on set pieces and clean up, where she's been exceptional. She almost always lays off/passes back when she has the ball outside the box. I'm not sure there's a true creator on this team - maybe Devey? I haven't seen enough of Malsom to know. I think Fassee has been pretty good so far, aside from all of the offside calls. That's been a continuation from last season and is frustrating. She just hasn't had the ball bounce her way as much this year.
Kennedy and Malsom are headed to Morocco for the FIFA U-17 World Cup on team USA soon.
Looks like they will be out 10/17 through 11/8
Group play through 10/24, followed by single elimination which I suppose could send them home sooner.
goheels.com
Malsom averages 50 min per game at MF or F as a part-time starter. Kennedy is a full time starter at MF averaging close to a full 60 in contested games. We will be paper this at MF again and also in general.
SMU 10-17
Miami 10-23
cuse 10-26
NCSU 10-30
ACC Championships 11-2 to 11-9
Should be back for NCAAT which starts 11-14
Looks like they will be out 10/17 through 11/8
Group play through 10/24, followed by single elimination which I suppose could send them home sooner.
Kennedy & Malsom Called Up For Women’s U-17 FIFA World Cup - University of North Carolina Athletics
U.S. Soccer released the 21-player roster for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Tuesday morning. University of North Carolina women's soccer team members ...
Malsom averages 50 min per game at MF or F as a part-time starter. Kennedy is a full time starter at MF averaging close to a full 60 in contested games. We will be paper this at MF again and also in general.
SMU 10-17
Miami 10-23
cuse 10-26
NCSU 10-30
ACC Championships 11-2 to 11-9
Should be back for NCAAT which starts 11-14
I know this is an amazing honor, but it keeps sucking that we lose players repeatedly during the season due to these call-ups.