Bailey's Late Goal Lifts Tar Heels Past Tigers

Thursday, September 21

Cary, N.C.

6:00 p.m.

North Carolina

6-2,ACC 2-0

Clemson

6-3,ACC 0-2

Clemson

North Carolina

Dorian Bailey celebrates her game-winning goal against Clemson.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 21, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score UNC Clemson Box Score UNC Clemson Play by Play Photo Gallery Anson Dorrance Post Game (mp3)Watch Bailey's Goal

UNC improves to 2-0 in the ACC.

By: Dave Lohse

CARY, N.C. – Dorian Bailey scored the game-winning goal for the second game in a row as eighth-ranked North Carolina defeated 19^th-ranked Clemson in women's soccer action 1-0 Thursday night at Koka Booth Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Thursday night. With the win, UNC improves to 2-0 in the ACC heading into a match at 11th-ranked Virginia Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. That game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

A crowd of 1,331 fans was on hand to watch another 1-0 game between the two old rivals. The teams also played a 1-0 game last year in the NCAA third round in another game in which the Tar Heels prevailed on a goal by Bailey. That win propelled the Tar Heels into the NCAA quarterfinals and eventually the Tar Heels would reach their first NCAA College Cup since 2012.

With the win, UNC improves to 31-1-1 all-time against the Tigers. Over the last four meetings between the two teams, UNC has emerged with three one-goal victories in the series and in the other match, UNC and Clemson played to a 1-1 tie in the regular season last year at Clemson. For the second straight meeting, it was Bailey, coming off the bench for Coach Anson Dorrance's team, who has scored the game-winning goal. On November 20, 2017, she scored at the 70:12 mark of the match to give UNC a 1-0 win over the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament third round at Fetzer Field.

The only goal of Thursday night's game came at 76:23 of the match and was set up by a throw in deep in the Clemson defensive end. Eventually, Madison Schultz got free in the center of the pitch around 20 yards from goal and she sent a left-footed shot off the cross bar. Bailey was right there to head the game-winner over the head of Clemson goalkeeper Sandy MacIver and into the back of the net.

It was Bailey's fourth goal of the season, a statistic in which she leads the team. It was also her second consecutive game-winning goal as she had the deciding tally in UNC's 1-0 win at Florida State last Sunday.

UNC finished with a 16-8 edge in shots in the game but both teams struggled to place shots on frame. Samantha Leshnak made two saves on Clemson's eight shots in the game and Sandy MacIver had three saves while allowing the one Tar Heel goal. UNC ended with a 4-2 edge in shots on goal and a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.

The two teams combined for just three shots on goal in the first half. MacIver made two saves for Clemson as she stopped Megan Buckingham at 4:15 and Sydney Spruill at 5:55. Leshnak's only save in the first half came at 29:25 as she stopped an effort by Jenna Polonsky of the Tigers.

The Tar Heels went from the the 5:55 mark of the game until 50:01 without a shot on frame. Julia Ashley's header would be saved by MacIver at that point and Carolina's next shot on frame was Bailey's game-winner at 76:23.

After the Tar Heels scored, they did not take another shot in the match. Conversely, Clemson took all five of its shots in the second half in the final 11:06 to play. Samantha Leshnak's save with 16 seconds left on a shot by Polonsky snuffed out Clemson's last chance on a tying score.

With the win, Carolina improves to 6-2 on the season and 2-0 in the ACC. Clemson fell to 6-3 with its third successive loss and the Tigers are now 0-2 in the ACC.

Neither team found the back of the net in the first half with UNC outshooting the Tigers 7-3. Finding shots on the net was difficult for both teams as Sandy MacIver made saves on both Tar Heel shots on frame in the first period while Samantha Leshnak made one save for Carolina. UNC took all five corner kicks in the first half.

Carolina will next be in action on Sunday when the Tar Heels travel to Charlottesville, Va., to meet up with the 11^th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers at Klockner Stadium. Game time is 3 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU. The Wahoos are 6-2-2 overall and 1-0-1 in the ACC after beating Miami 1-0 Thursday night at Klockner Stadium.