University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, October 9
Tallahassee, Fla.
6 p.m.
North Carolina
at
Florida State
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Women’s Soccer Begins Road Swing At Florida State
October 7, 2026 | Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 1 Carolina women's soccer will begin a three-game road swing Friday night at No. 22 Florida State. The Tar Heels and Seminoles are set for a 6 p.m. kickoff in Tallahassee with streaming available on ESPNU.
The top-ranked Tar Heels will clash with the defending national champion Seminoles for the 53rd time in program history this week. UNC leads the series against FSU with a 31-15-6 record. Both programs have consistently been among the nation's top competitors, creating a history of exciting matchups between the teams. In recent seasons, the Seminoles have led the way with three consecutive wins.
Carolina heads into the match on an eight-game winning streak, including three top 20 wins. The Tar Heels have gotten off to a strong start in ACC play, sitting atop the standings with a 4-0 record and 12 points.
The team's dominant play has been backed by the offensive prowess of Bella Devey and overall team effort on defense. Devey recently earned her third ACC Offensive Player of the Week honor after notching her fourth brace of the season. The striker sits first in the ACC and second in the NCAA with 14 total goals. Defensively, Carolina has held their opponents to just eight goals across the season while recording seven shutouts. Freshman standout Cali O'Neill has played an integral role in the defensive success for UNC, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Week accolades Oct. 6.
On the road or at home, UNC has maintained its dominance on the pitch. The Tar Heels have remained unbeaten on the road so far this season with a 4-0 record. Carolina has outscored opponents 8-2 on away trips.
Tar Heel Tidbits
The top-ranked Tar Heels will clash with the defending national champion Seminoles for the 53rd time in program history this week. UNC leads the series against FSU with a 31-15-6 record. Both programs have consistently been among the nation's top competitors, creating a history of exciting matchups between the teams. In recent seasons, the Seminoles have led the way with three consecutive wins.
Carolina heads into the match on an eight-game winning streak, including three top 20 wins. The Tar Heels have gotten off to a strong start in ACC play, sitting atop the standings with a 4-0 record and 12 points.
The team's dominant play has been backed by the offensive prowess of Bella Devey and overall team effort on defense. Devey recently earned her third ACC Offensive Player of the Week honor after notching her fourth brace of the season. The striker sits first in the ACC and second in the NCAA with 14 total goals. Defensively, Carolina has held their opponents to just eight goals across the season while recording seven shutouts. Freshman standout Cali O'Neill has played an integral role in the defensive success for UNC, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Week accolades Oct. 6.
On the road or at home, UNC has maintained its dominance on the pitch. The Tar Heels have remained unbeaten on the road so far this season with a 4-0 record. Carolina has outscored opponents 8-2 on away trips.
Tar Heel Tidbits
- Carolina sits at the top of the ACC standings with a 4-0 record and 12 points in league action. The Tar Heels also lead the ACC with 43 total goals, 114 total points, and a 3.58 goals per game average.
- The Tar Heels recently picked up their third ranked win of the season over No. 12 Notre Dame.
- Carolina ranked No. 1 in the recent United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Tar Heels have now received a No. 1 ranking in 38 seasons.
- The Tar Heels have outscored their opponents 43-8 this season.
- Summer Denigan and Bella Devey were named to the MAC Hermann Mid-Season Watch List.
- Bella Devey leads the team with 14 total goals. She has earned ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors three times this season and leads the ACC in total goals. In the NCAA, she ranks second for total goals. She was also named to the Preseason All-ACC Team.
- Cali O'Neill earned her first career weekly award Oct. 6 after being tabbed ACC Defensive Player of the Week.
- Lilliah Blum recorded her first career brace in the match against Duke. She now has five goals this season. Blum was tabbed ACC Offensive Player of the Week and TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week on Sept. 22.
- Lilliah Blum and Amari Manning lead the Tar Heels with five assists each.
- Peyton Trayer leads Carolina in goal with nine wins and 13 saves. She has notched seven shutouts this season.
- Five Tar Heels were featured in the Preseason TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Rankings (Summer Denigan - no.4, Izzi Stratton - no. 24, Bella Gaetino - no. 35, Bella Devey - no. 68, Hope Munson - no. 77).
- Three Tar Heels were named to the Preseason TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Teams (Summer Denigan - First Team, Izzi Stratton - Third Team, Cali O'Neill - Freshman Team).
- Both Summer Denigan and Izzi Stratton were named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
- The Tar Heels were selected fifth in the ACC Preseason Poll.
- Aven Alvarez, Hope Munson, and Sealey Strawn were named to the U-20 WNT roster for the 2026 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup. The trio of Heels helped the national team advance to the round of 16 at the World Cup.
- Amari Manning and Deus Stanislaus were called up for the U-17 WNT roster for the upcoming U-17 FIFA World Cup in Morocco Oct. 17-Nov. 7.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's SoccerWednesday, October 07
Wednesday, October 07
Wednesday, October 07
Wednesday, October 07