Tar Heels Explode Offensively In 5-0 Victory Over Auburn

Friday, September 1

Durham, N.C.

5:00 p.m.

North Carolina

3-1-0

Auburn

2-2-1

Auburn University

North Carolina

Joanna Boyles scored twice in UNC's win over Auburn.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 1, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Watch Highlights On You Tube Watch Alessia Russo's Game-Winning Goal Box Score (pdf)

Boyles scores twice as Tar Heels blank Tigers

By: Dave Lohse

DURHAM, N.C. – Joanna Boyles scored a pair of goals and three other Tar Heels added single tallies as the North Carolina women's soccer team powered its way to a 5-0 victory over Auburn at Koskinen Stadium on Friday night.

The game was the lidlifter of a two-game Friday night doubleheader as part of the Duke Nike Classic. The Tigers and Tar Heels were scheduled for a 5 p.m. kickoff Friday but the game was delayed by two-and-one-half hours by lightning and heavy thunderstorms, finally starting at 7:30 p.m.

Carolina improved to 3-1 on the season while Auburn fell to 2-2-1. The five goals were the most scored by UNC in a game since August 23, 2015 when the Heels beat Fresno State 7-0 at Fetzer Field.

UNC finished with a 23-2 shot margin in the game as it outshot Auburn 12-2 in the first half and 11-0 in the second half. UNC had five corner kicks in the game to one for Auburn. UNC goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak played the whole way and recorded her first career solo shutout, making one save. Sarah Le Beau made nine saves and allowed five goals while guarding the net for the Tigers of the Southeastern Conference.

UNC dominated the first half but was unable to dent the scoreboard until the 29^th minute and then it went ahead 1-0 on a spectacular goal by freshman forward Alessia Russo. Megan Buckingham had the assist on the tally. Russo's goal, her second consecutive game-winning tally, came at 28:49 of the match. Russo powered a shot from 25 yards out that was struck on a rope into the upper right 90 of the goal, freezing Le Beau in the process.

Carolina maintained the 1-0 lead until it took complete control with four goals in the final 26 minutes of the match. Russo was taken down in the penalty area right at the 64-minute mark and junior Dorian Bailey struck her penalty kick into the left side for her second goal of the year.

Late in the 74^th minute, Taylor Otto of the Tar Heels was taken down in front of the Tar Heel penalty area around 22 yards from goal. Joanna Boyles took the ensuing free kick and sent a ball past the Auburn wall and into the lower left corner of the frame for her second goal of the season.

Boyles scored again less than six minutes later when she finished off a nifty passing combination in the box in tight quarters. Boyles' shot from 12 yards out on the left side found the right side of the net after she took a redirect from Dorian Bailey who shielded a defender with her back to the goal. Taylor Otto also assisted on the goal.

Carolina finished the scoring at 88:42 as Miah Araba, a Chapel Hill native, scored her initial career goal while playing the first six minutes of her Tar Heel career. Araba sent a high, arcing shot from 22 yards out into the upper left 90 of the frame over the head of Le Beau. Bridgette Andrzejewski assisted on the goal.

Carolina will return to action on Sunday when it plays UNCW in the Duke Nike Classic at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C. The game will be webcast nationally on ACC Network Extra.