University of North Carolina Athletics
Thursday, September 17
Chapel Hill, N.C.
8 p.m.
North Carolina
vs
Duke
Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT
Women’s Soccer Takes On No. 2 Duke Thursday Night
September 16, 2026 | Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For the second time this season, No. 7 Carolina women's soccer will host a top-10 matchup on Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium. The Tar Heels are set to welcome No. 2 Duke Thursday night at 8 p.m. with streaming available on ACC Network.
Carolina and Duke are set to clash for the 58th time in program history this week. Duke will head down Tobacco Road to visit Chapel Hill for the first time since 2024. Overall, the Tar Heels are 18-5-1 against the Blue Devils on their home pitch.
Thursday's match will feature two of the highest scoring offenses in the ACC. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils have three of the top five goal scorers in the ACC (Mia Minestrella (9) - no. 2, Bella Devey (8) - no. 3, Summer Denigan (7) - no. 4). Both teams are tied for second in the league for total goals with 27 and rank in the top 10 nationally.
Defensively, both teams have continued to apply the pressure on their opponents. UNC and Duke have only conceded four goals each this season.
Between their scoring capabilities and defensive pressure, Thursday's match looks to be another historic matchup between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils.
Tar Heel Tidbits
Carolina and Duke are set to clash for the 58th time in program history this week. Duke will head down Tobacco Road to visit Chapel Hill for the first time since 2024. Overall, the Tar Heels are 18-5-1 against the Blue Devils on their home pitch.
Thursday's match will feature two of the highest scoring offenses in the ACC. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils have three of the top five goal scorers in the ACC (Mia Minestrella (9) - no. 2, Bella Devey (8) - no. 3, Summer Denigan (7) - no. 4). Both teams are tied for second in the league for total goals with 27 and rank in the top 10 nationally.
Defensively, both teams have continued to apply the pressure on their opponents. UNC and Duke have only conceded four goals each this season.
Between their scoring capabilities and defensive pressure, Thursday's match looks to be another historic matchup between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils.
Tar Heel Tidbits
- The Tar Heels have outscored their opponents 27-4 this season.
- Carolina opened ACC play with a 3-0 win over Cal, improving to 1-0 in league action.
- UNC holds a 4-1 record at home with all four wins coming in shutouts. The Tar Heels have outscored their opponents 22-3 on Dorrance Field this season.
- Carolina ranked no. 7 in the recent United Soccer Coaches Poll.
- Bella Devey leads the team with eight total goals. She was tabbed ACC Player of the Week after leading the nation in scoring with five goals and 10 points during week one of the season. The honor marks the first ACC weekly award of her career. She was also named to the Preseason All-ACC Team.
- Hope Munson and Summer Denigan have each recorded a brace this season. Denigan also leads the team with four assists and 18 points.
- Peyton Trayer leads Carolina in goal with seven wins and 11 saves. She has notched six clean sheets 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 upcoming 2026 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup. The trio of Heels will compete with the national team Sept. 5-27 in Poland.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
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