UNC Women’s Soccer 2025-2026

[UltimateHeel]

I think the top 3 big problems with our team:

1. Goal keeping - not a fan of Brooks and I question her decision making. Not all goals are her fault but I don't get a feeling of confidence from her play
2. Our offense is allergic to open grass.
   1. Many times our midfielders out wide don't carry ball down field into corner to cross back into box. We almost always turn back up field to make a pass. If we carried the ball into the open grass towards endline then we'll get the defense out of position and having to find someone to defend on the backside and we'll get deflections that result in corner kicks.
   2. We are rarely playing direct balls over the top so we can utilize our speed and the open grass. Fassee, Thomas and Ullmark are fast that will create problems for defense and keeper.
3. Nahas doesn't substitute - need more players to play/develop, fresher legs, better chemistry for entire team when everyone is involved.

 

[CoopCupp]

Hope coach is not another Hubert D

 

[3397char]

Man that was another multiple goal loss to an unranked (at the time) team. We have yet to score a goal; against a p5 team. 3 games into the season and you have to wonder where this team is going. It is not good right now.

Some thoughts:

• We just played a barely 17 year old goalie in a driving rain, and we did not get a single meaningful shot on goal to test her. Not one. And only one shot of any sort in the first half. The scorecard says 2 shots on goal but the first was an anemic bouncer from way outside the box and the second was a set piece directly into her arms. I could have fielded those. yes she made quite a few solid decisions out of the goal all night, but none of them involved her trying to hold onto a wet shot at pace. What a missed opportunity.
• We finally got Faasse the ball in a dangerous position late in this game. Those 3 touches were her first potential Faasse moments and two were wild shots and another was i good goalie dive, but really a missed opportunity to just drive it at her.
• Thomas is back to her bad habits in previous years at getting good opportunities but repeatedly failing to put the ball on frame. through 3 games she has 15 live action shots but only 2 on goal (not including the set pieces.) Even with the set pieces included she is dead last on the team in SOG%. She is doing great at turning with the ball, but how is she still so off frame so often? And I really want to see more defensive pressure from her. especially as one of the few players who gets subbed out to rest.
• Our left side defense has been leaving wing runners wide open all 3 games. It is normal to find space on the wing but no one is in the zip code way too often. Directly lead to the eventual pinball goal #1 this game and the game winner last game.
• Gaetino back at center defender with both Dellarose and Mara out. She played well enough but her fellow de3fenders crowded her way too often leaving those wings open.
• Brooks standing like a statue on that second goal was pretty inexplicable. I could not tell for sure from the TV angle, but the ball looked like it was certainly worth a lunge. Or did she think it was way off frame? A real head scratcher. And I do not see her leading the defense at all as Gagne did no vocally last season.
• UGA was bigger, stronger and more tenacious. It served them well on a wet, sloppy day. Grit and brawn trumped skill and speed all night long.
• Midfield passing was pretty disjointed again with tons of lost possession and few passes forward to attacking space.

 

[3397char]

For those clamoring for substitutes this is not a deep team yet again. Especially with two starters out injured. And it will get worse when the freshman call-ups head out. We had only 2 subs this game. Here is the full list of field player who did not play vs UGA:

1. Jr MF/F Ella Smith - A bit of a head scratcher as a coveted recruit (United Soccer HS All-American), but has not seen action in a close P5 game in her previous 2 years. Morehead-Caine Scholar.​
2. Jr F Logan Tongberg - was not a heralded recruit and came in as a UNC legacy, and did not play last season in close P5 games.​
3. Jr D/MF Raegan Williams - a mid-level recruit out of high school (multiple all-state honors) but only played in 3 blowout games her first 2 seasons.​
4. Grad D Ryann Brown - Princeton 2nd Team All-Ivy. She played vs FL when we had the injury bug, but putting Gaetino back on defense kept her out of this game.​
5. Sr MF Eden Bretzer - FGCU transfer prior to last season who came in late when we had the extreme roster turnover and were looking for bodies in the portal. she was not a full-time starter for FGCU, so not a highly touted transfer. Did not play last season. Played just a couple on minutes against FL, did not see action at UGA.​
6. Fr D Djem Koppelaar. From Holland, Has not yet played this season. Late transfer add, not sure how long she has been on campus and her current availability?​
7. Fr F Jennie Dearie - No notable high school accolades, I don't think she was a coveted recruit.​
8. Fr D Camie Maynor - #214 Recruit by Prep Soccer, U17 ECNL POY & All-American​

So while that is 8 bodies who did not see the field, I have a couple of thoughts:

• I see 2-3 women who reasonably should be able to contribute on defense, but most coaches rarely sub defenders. We are starting a super young defensive line, have two starters out, and 3 freshmen playing who I think we should assume beat out these women above
• I really see some slim pickings for forwards and midfielders. And that got worse now that we have conceded Gaetino back to the defensive line. Ella Smith is the only player I think you could label as a surprise to not see playing time.
• You can't just substitute as a philosophy without quality depth. As of right now where does anyone see that depth that should be playing?

 

[UltimateHeel]

For those clamoring for substitutes this is not a deep team yet again. Especially with two starters out injured. And it will get worse when the freshman call-ups head out. We had only 2 subs this game. Here is the full list of field player who did not play vs UGA:

1. Jr MF/F Ella Smith - A bit of a head scratcher as a coveted recruit (United Soccer HS All-American), but has not seen action in a close P5 game in her previous 2 years. Morehead-Caine Scholar.​
2. Jr F Logan Tongberg - was not a heralded recruit and came in as a UNC legacy, and did not play last season in close P5 games.​
3. Jr D/MF Raegan Williams - a mid-level recruit out of high school (multiple all-state honors) but only played in 3 blowout games her first 2 seasons.​
4. Grad D Ryann Brown - Princeton 2nd Team All-Ivy. She played vs FL when we had the injury bug, but putting Gaetino back on defense kept her out of this game.​
5. Sr MF Eden Bretzer - FGCU transfer prior to last season who came in late when we had the extreme roster turnover and were looking for bodies in the portal. she was not a full-time starter for FGCU, so not a highly touted transfer. Did not play last season. Played just a couple on minutes against FL, did not see action at UGA.​
6. Fr D Djem Koppelaar. From Holland, Has not yet played this season. Late transfer add, not sure how long she has been on campus and her current availability?​
7. Fr F Jennie Dearie - No notable high school accolades, I don't think she was a coveted recruit.​
8. Fr D Camie Maynor - #214 Recruit by Prep Soccer, U17 ECNL POY & All-American​

So while that is 8 bodies who did not see the field, I have a couple of thoughts:

• I see 2-3 women who reasonably should be able to contribute on defense, but most coaches rarely sub defenders. We are starting a super young defensive line, have two starters out, and 3 freshmen playing who I think we should assume beat out these women above
• I really see some slim pickings for forwards and midfielders. And that got worse now that we have conceded Gaetino back to the defensive line. Ella Smith is the only player I think you could label as a surprise to not see playing time.
• You can't just substitute as a philosophy without quality depth. As of right now where does anyone see that depth that should be playing?

Thanks for the analysis of players that didn’t play. While I said above Nahas should sub more, doesn’t seem like he can to any degree.

 

[Jriv23]

Damon needs to have a sit down with Anson and Anson needs to tell him he needs to play more people. Playing players, too many minutes is not healthy for them nor the team. This is only going to risk them getting hurt at a higher rate. Right now, you have lost two, so go ahead in play more players off the bench. If LB is struggling at the goalie, then sub her out. You have brought in at least 4 goalies, play them and see who plays the best. At this point, it will not hurt. I am very surprised that he is stubborn. When he spoke on the podcast, you got the impression that he was going to play a lot of players and keep everyone fresh. This is unacceptable.

 

[Sctarheel3030]

We won the title last year. This team stinks. It'll be ok if we have a really bad year and that seems to be what is going to happen.

It’s never ok to suck or stink as you say.

 

[oldeastjl]

For those lauding Liya's national team experience, her last two games with Jamaica:
11 goals allowed.

7 against England and 4 against a US team without many of their starters

Try Gundry and Johann against Alabama. Don't need a third game against an SEC team to go the exact same way

 

[Jriv23]

I would have to agree. Play Gundry and Johann. You have to try something different with the goalie situation. You never know what these two can do if you do not play them. It is not going hurt at this point. The same way as playing some of the other players.

 

[bradarb08]

I hoping to just to see some sort of change today. I do not know why Damon is in love with a 3-back system. He did it most of last year... but when we went on a roll near the end of the season, it was when we switched to a 4-back system with Alvarez, Gaetino, Armstrong, and Elgin. So I'm not sure why with a less experienced and less talented team this year, he'd try to do a 3-back again.

I believe we ran a 4-2-3-1, essentially, with our pivoting 6s. I think that's a good formation for this team. Extra defensive help, two bodies centrally just above the defense to help run some offense through the center of the field to distribute to the wings and spread teams out.

I'm not a soccer coach and I'm not at practice, but I'd go with Alvarez and Brown on the wings, and Gaetino and Munson at CB. If Mara is back, you can replace Gaetino (since the rumor is she doesn't want to play back there) and put her in the 6. Kennedy is not quite ready for that spot right now and if Dellarose is still out, I'd put Gaetino there, so she can be offensive but also help on defense when needed.

And then, yes, please, let's see another goalie. I know Gundry and Johann played against Sienna.

 

[bradarb08]

According to the lineup graphic, we have Gundry in goal. Our lineup graphic is always off… says 3 defenders, 4 mids, and 3 forwards… but the broadcast says 3-5-2 again… Freideld getting her first start.

 

[BlueHeels02]

Great finish

 

[3397char]

Nice turn and strike by Thomas! Good things can happen when you keep the ball low and fast

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Man that was another multiple goal loss to an unranked (at the time) team. We have yet to score a goal; against a p5 team. 3 games into the season and you have to wonder where this team is going. It is not good right now.

Some thoughts:

• We just played a barely 17 year old goalie in a driving rain, and we did not get a single meaningful shot on goal to test her. Not one. And only one shot of any sort in the first half. The scorecard says 2 shots on goal but the first was an anemic bouncer from way outside the box and the second was a set piece directly into her arms. I could have fielded those. yes she made quite a few solid decisions out of the goal all night, but none of them involved her trying to hold onto a wet shot at pace. What a missed opportunity.
• We finally got Faasse the ball in a dangerous position late in this game. Those 3 touches were her first potential Faasse moments and two were wild shots and another was i good goalie dive, but really a missed opportunity to just drive it at her.
• Thomas is back to her bad habits in previous years at getting good opportunities but repeatedly failing to put the ball on frame. through 3 games she has 15 live action shots but only 2 on goal (not including the set pieces.) Even with the set pieces included she is dead last on the team in SOG%. She is doing great at turning with the ball, but how is she still so off frame so often? And I really want to see more defensive pressure from her. especially as one of the few players who gets subbed out to rest.
• Our left side defense has been leaving wing runners wide open all 3 games. It is normal to find space on the wing but no one is in the zip code way too often. Directly lead to the eventual pinball goal #1 this game and the game winner last game.
• Gaetino back at center defender with both Dellarose and Mara out. She played well enough but her fellow de3fenders crowded her way too often leaving those wings open.
• Brooks standing like a statue on that second goal was pretty inexplicable. I could not tell for sure from the TV angle, but the ball looked like it was certainly worth a lunge. Or did she think it was way off frame? A real head scratcher. And I do not see her leading the defense at all as Gagne did no vocally last season.
• UGA was bigger, stronger and more tenacious. It served them well on a wet, sloppy day. Grit and brawn trumped skill and speed all night long.
• Midfield passing was pretty disjointed again with tons of lost possession and few passes forward to attacking space.

While I agree with pretty much all of this, I strongly disagree with your first bullet point. While we did not create nearly enough chances (which is the biggest problem with this team right now....our midfield lacks creativity has been very inept in creating quality opportunities for our forwards so far), Georgia's GK made two extremely good saves. One when Ullmark was played through and was 1v1 with the GK, and the GK came off her line and saved a point blank shot (which would have gone in) with her face. That was a tough/brave play that the majority of GKs would not have made. The second was when Fasse was in all alone 1v1 with the GK and tried to fake the shot and dribble around and their GK dove in and stole it right out from under Fasse's feet....that would have been an easy open net tap in for Fasse otherwise.

So I get that we didn't do nearly enough, but those 2 plays would have been goals vs many/most GKs. She made two incredible plays....if she had not, that game would have been a 2-2 tie.

I'm not excusing the loss, but saying that we didn't create a "single meaningful shot on goal" is just not true. But you are more than right to say that we didn't create enough meaningful opportunities (nor did we capitalize on the few we had).

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Nice goal by Thomas...as pointed out by another, she's been missing the target a lot so far this year....good to see her put one on goal with power.

Disappointed in Faase so far....all alone with the GK and tried the same fake she blew against Georgia's GK, and the same result happened. She needs to sell that faked shot better if she's going to try that (her "fake" was pretty lazily executed which is why it did not work), or just take the shot when she has it. We need her to finish those, that was the equivalent of missing a wide open layup. She's the national player of the year, but you'd never know it so far this season...Ullmark, Thomas, and Gaetino, and maybe even Devey, have all been more impactful so far this season than Faase.

Interesting to see that we switched out our GK this game. While I'm for the change (Brooks was really drifting out off her line and getting caught in no man's land several times in prior games), I hope we stick with one and not just keep going back and forth. We need continuity in the back.

Gaetino back at CB is something I'm for. She may want to be playing in the midfield (per the rumor noted above), but she's an All American level CB, and that's where she best helps this team. She started at the 6 (center defensive/holding midfielder) in the Tennessee game and seemed a bit lost, particularly when having to play with her back to defenders and dealing with pressure from multiple angles in the croweded midfield. I'm sure she could figure it out with experience, but right now we need her in the back, she's just too good and too valuable back there. (Full disclosure: she's my favorite player on the team, that's how highly I think of her).

 

[UNCBullMarket]

I hoping to just to see some sort of change today. I do not know why Damon is in love with a 3-back system. He did it most of last year... but when we went on a roll near the end of the season, it was when we switched to a 4-back system with Alvarez, Gaetino, Armstrong, and Elgin. So I'm not sure why with a less experienced and less talented team this year, he'd try to do a 3-back again.

I believe we ran a 4-2-3-1, essentially, with our pivoting 6s. I think that's a good formation for this team. Extra defensive help, two bodies centrally just above the defense to help run some offense through the center of the field to distribute to the wings and spread teams out.

I'm not a soccer coach and I'm not at practice, but I'd go with Alvarez and Brown on the wings, and Gaetino and Munson at CB. If Mara is back, you can replace Gaetino (since the rumor is she doesn't want to play back there) and put her in the 6. Kennedy is not quite ready for that spot right now and if Dellarose is still out, I'd put Gaetino there, so she can be offensive but also help on defense when needed.

And then, yes, please, let's see another goalie. I know Gundry and Johann played against Sienna.

I hear you...but I think the reason we are playing with 5 MFs and only 3 backs is more to try to help out central midfielders out with numbers. That is probably our weakest and most inexperienced position on the field right now, especially with Dellarose out. Putting Gaetino at CB probably gives Damon enough confidence in the back line. Our biggest problem so far has been that we aren't creating enough scoring chances despite dominating possession in games. I don't think going to a 4 back setup is going to help us there. That being said, when we get into the ACC and start playing the FSU's of the world, I definitely think we're going to have to go to a 4 back lineup. This team is far from the team that won the title last year. The fact that we're only up 1-0 on Rice at home after 30 minutes is not giving me much of a confidence boost. It doesn't appear that we really landed any meaningful transfers in the offseason that are going to help elevate this team to the elite level we've been so used to seeing.

 

[bradarb08]

I hear you. I would respectively disagree that I think the four back would help offense. So many times you see our midfielders back covering on defense and pulling them back… so that by the time they are back in offense, the opposing team is able to get back into their heavy defensive front. Just saying the overcompensating for the three backs hurt us.
I think Pennie is doing better for us in the midfield today, but there still isn’t anyone in the center of the pitch in the 10 to help connect with the forwards. It has been slightly better today, but so much wide movement. So teams are jumping out long passes.
We did go to a 4-1-3-2 at the end of the first half, being in Mara and Brown.

 

[3397char]

While I agree with pretty much all of this, I strongly disagree with your first bullet point. While we did not create nearly enough chances (which is the biggest problem with this team right now....our midfield lacks creativity has been very inept in creating quality opportunities for our forwards so far), Georgia's GK made two extremely good saves. One when Ullmark was played through and was 1v1 with the GK, and the GK came off her line and saved a point blank shot (which would have gone in) with her face. That was a tough/brave play that the majority of GKs would not have made. The second was when Fasse was in all alone 1v1 with the GK and tried to fake the shot and dribble around and their GK dove in and stole it right out from under Fasse's feet....that would have been an easy open net tap in for Fasse otherwise.

So I get that we didn't do nearly enough, but those 2 plays would have been goals vs many/most GKs. She made two incredible plays....if she had not, that game would have been a 2-2 tie.

I'm not excusing the loss, but saying that we didn't create a "single meaningful shot on goal" is just not true. But you are more than right to say that we didn't create enough meaningful opportunities (nor did we capitalize on the few we had).

What I said was this: “yes she made quite a few solid decisions out of the goal all night, but none of them involved her trying to hold onto a wet shot at pace. “

yes, she made great desicions, and I gave her credit for that. She came out on Ullmark, made herself big, that is what you are coached to do. though I would say blocking a shot with your face from 5 ft away is more luck than any skill, especially when the deflection falls harmlessly out of bounds.
Her dive on Faasse was great and gutsy. Kudos to her. But not a shot on goal, instead a pretty noticeable flub by Faasse. That was my point.

way too many shots not created, way too many shots not taken and way too many off frame. Their goalie played perfect, but she got off easy.

 

[bradarb08]

I really like Kacey White on commentary. Talk about a great Tar Heel. Does she still hold the all-time NCAA assist record?

 

[3397char]

12th all-time NCAA Div 1, Hamm tops at UNC

 

[UNCBullMarket]

I think we're seeing why Damon isn't subbing a lot in the last 15 minutes of this Rice game. There is a pretty big dropoff once we get into our bench more than 3-4 players. It's a different world of women's college soccer now than when Anson was in his heyday. Other programs have caught up and with NIL and free transfers, we just don't have the monopoly on talent that we had under so much of Anson's tenure. We don't have a team of 20 star level players now like we used to.

I definitely agree that you need to be playing more players to develop talent, but that is a luxury that you can't afford when you are losing games or playing top tier opponents. But obviously you've go to sub some to keep your players fresh.....so the answer is somewhere in the middle. People used to complain on here that Anson subbed too much at times (including me), so there is always a reason to criticize if the team isn't steamrolling everyone they play. Games like Rice and Siena are the opportunities for Damon to get some of the bench extended playing time, and he definitely took advantage of that.

It is notable that he kept Faase in late in the game....you can see that he clearly wants her to get that first goal and get going. She had a couple of close chances, but it's just not going her way right now. Honestly, she's one of our better players on the ball, and part of me wonders if she might help this team more playing in the #10 role (dropping back slightly into an attacking midfield position) area to give us some more creativity there.

That injury for Bradley looked ACL-ish. I saw her say "it popped" as soon as the trainers got to her, and she was visibly upset, as that would obviously be a season ending scenario for her. I really hope that isn't the case. Good to see her walk off on her own, but I've seen that happen before and it still turn out to be an ACL. I played with a guy years ago who tweaked his knee in a game, went home that night, went to school for the entire the next day, and then after told our coach his knee was bothering him and it ended up being a season ending ACL. I had no idea he even got hurt and then coach tells us a couple of days later he was done. So you never know, but that one did not look great for her. Fingers crossed for some good news, we definitely can't afford to lose many starters considering our thin depth already.

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

Another fine showing by our student athletes

 

[Jriv23]

Great win. We have to have more consistency and Damon is going to have to mix it up some. I am surprised that we do not have a lot of depth coming from the bench. I know NIL has something to do with it. That is why BC and the top brass is going to have to figure out a way to help resolve this. The soccer program is most historic program on campus. There is no way you should let this program fall from grace. Even Dean Smith stated that UNC is s soccer school.

 

[3397char]

There is very little university directed NIL nor rev share in women's soccer. The recent difference is the end of the 1 year sit out rule and the advent of the NWSL reaching all the way to 18 year-olds to mine talent.

There are very few 3-time All-Americans still hanging around in college and thus very few highly talented freshman just sitting on the bench waiting their turn. We had 17 women turn pro the last two seasons and have had to get HS Jr's to reclassify just to fill out a starting 11 with talent.

No need to keep asking Bubba to reconfigure the rev share distribution. The UNC AD has already stated the rev share formula we are going to use. It is not going to happen. There is not enough to make 28 programs fat and happy.

And whatever university directed NIL we can scrounge up can and should go to keeping a Faasse, Dellarose, Ullmark, Thomas, etc... on the team as opposed to blowing the bank for greener grasses elsewhere and risking the loss of your star players. That is what you do when you are the reigning national champion.

We won that national championship 9 months ago and started the season #1. Yes, this team this year so far has serious problems, but I think concerns about falling from grace are a bit premature.

 

[3397char]

Matt Krause said during the broadcast that Marisa Shorrock (?) was penciled in as the starting goalkeeper on this roster prior to the season, but had a likely season-ending injury in the offseason. I think that was previously posted by a fan here but bears repeating. Someone correct me if i heard that wrong.

 

[bradarb08]

Matt Krause said during the broadcast that Marisa Shorrock (?) was penciled in as the starting goalkeeper on this roster prior to the season, but had a likely season-ending injury in the offseason. I think that was previously posted by a fan here but bears repeating. Someone correct me if i heard that wrong.

I heard that, too. He said it occurred during private training.

 

[JohnnyYen]

Where did this bit of info about Gaetino's desire to move up originate? There's been a lot of mention of it, I've probably said it myself, but does anyone actually know if it's true?

 

[3397char]

Good question

 

[UNCH]

Watch her TikTok videos.

 

[JohnnyYen]

Yeah, I'm not gonna do that. What does she say?

 

[TAHeel]

#22 in Poll. 6 ACC teams ranked ahead of us, #24 VT only other ACC team ranked.

 

[3397char]

4-1-4-1 scheme today:

• L - R starting in the back:
• Devey - Munson - Gaetino - Alvarez
• Pennie
• Freifield - Ullmark - Faasse - Bretzer
• Thomas

Gundry starts in goal

 

[3397char]

UNC Greensboro vs. #22 North Carolina 8/28/25 - Stream the Match Live - Watch ESPN

Stream the NCAA Women's Soccer Match UNC Greensboro vs. #22 North Carolina live from %{channel} on Watch ESPN. Live stream on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

www.espn.com

 

[3397char]

Nahas told Krause that Dellarose could be cleared to play as early as Sunday.

 

[3397char]

Devey scores! 19th minute she crosses the goal just outside of the goal box then shoots a grounder to the side netting. Nice, simple, precise shot.

Needless to say, there is some freedom to advance for our defenders in this 4 back set.

 

[3397char]

GOOOAL Faasse! On the rebound. (Once they are done seeing it on VR...)

35th minute 2-0 Heels

 

[3397char]

2-0 Halftime

The shots today have been really accurate, the crosses really dangerous. There were a few notable long balls from the back line and holding midfielders. Our opponent is not a good team, and we are not feeling much ball pressure at times, but this execution is exactly what we want.

Team Totals

TEAM	Shots	SOG	Saves	Fouls	Corners	OffSides
UNCG	1	0	5	2	0	0
UNC	12	8	0	1	5	2

And one of those 4 misses was a missile from Ullmark off the crossbar.

4 shots from the defensive backline.

Only 1 sub first half: Mara and Bretzer played even minutes.

Headed out, so will catch the 2nd half later.

 

[BlueHeels02]

Happy to hear Tessa is back soon

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

Another fine showing by our student athletes

 

[SomeBeach1]

Nahas told Krause that Dellarose could be cleared to play as early as Sunday.

I watched her warm up tonight. She looked ready. She said she was ready and feeling good. I'm excited for her.