Women’s Soccer Tops Wake Forest, 1-0, To Start ACC Play

Thursday, September 12

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7 p.m. ET

North Carolina

8-1-0, 1-0-0

Wake Forest

5-2-1, 0-1-0

Wake Forest

North Carolina

Kate Faasse, Aria Nagai, and Aven Alvarez

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 12, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Kate Faasse's sixth goal of the season was all that was needed to give No. 10 North Carolina women's soccer a 1-0 victory over Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Thursday night at Dorrance Field.

Following the win, the Tar Heels improve to 8-1 on the year and begin league action at 1-0. The Demon Deacons drop to 5-2-1 (0-1 ACC).

UNC now moves to 32-6 all-time in ACC openers and is 12-4 when starting conference play at home.

How It Happened

Carolina struggled to gain meaningful possession at the start but its defense stood solid against a fiery Wake Forest press. The visitors fired off four shots in the opening 11 minutes, all which were met as missed chances.
Against the run of play, UNC broke through in the 27th minute to go up 1-0 after capitalizing on a WFU turnover. Makenna Dominguez won the ball back on the left flank and sent a beautiful cross to Faasse at the top of the 18-yard box. Faasse regained control of the ball off the bounce and used her right boot to slot it in past the keeper from six yards out.
The goal unmistakably instilled more confidence into the home team as momentum swung in their favor, as evident by sharp passing and an aggressive counterattack.
Despite both teams ranking in the top 12 nationally in shots per game, they combined for just seven in the first half, with UNC's sole shot being Faasse's goal for a 1-0 lead at the break.
Dominguez registered UNC's lone attempt on frame in the second half, but her 65th-minute chance from a challenging angle was denied by the WFU keeper.
The Demon Deacons started to pick the pace back up offensively, but any possession was met by a smothering Tar Heel defense. WFU's best look of the final 45 minutes came with 11 left on the clock to the top right corner, forcing a diving save from Clare Gagne to preserve the 1-0 lead.

Inside the Box Score

Faasse has scored in back-to-back games and now has six goals on the year.
Dominguez recorded her second assist of her career, both which have come this season.
Wake Forest, which had been averaging 22.4 shots per game, was held to only nine and just two on frame.
UNC has kept all opponents to five shots on goal or fewer, and all opponents to 11 shots or fewer.
Carolina finished with three shots and two on target, its fewest of the year for both.
WFU ended with a 3-0 edge in corners. It was the second time this season UNC had not had one.
Gagne made two saves between the posts for her fifth shutout.
A season-high eight Tar Heels logged a full 90 minutes, including freshman Aven Alvarez for the first time in her career.
The physicality of the match was evident with five yellow cards issued, three which were to Wake Forest.

Up Next
Having concluded its seven-game stretch of matches played in the state of North Carolina, the 10th-ranked Tar Heels travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to face Pitt on Thursday, Sept. 19, for their fourth road game of the year. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. ET at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.