Top-ranked North Carolina scored three times in a three-minute stretch early on, and #16 Virginia wasn’t able to mount a rally in a 3-1 loss on Friday night at Klöckner Stadium.
The Heels (10-1-0, 3-0-0 ACC) got goals in the ninth and 10th minutes from Bella Devey, and a PK from Summer Denigan in the 12th, to take the commanding 3-0 lead.
The lone goal for Virginia (5-2-2, 1-2-0 ACC) came in the 57th minute. Aniyah Collier got loose behind the defense, and her centering pass was batted down by a recovering defender in the box to put Addison Halpern at the spot for the PK, which she converted.
“We were probably more consistent tonight than we’ve been, but that three-minute spell hurt us,” UVA coach Steve Swanson said. “Credit North Carolina, they punished us. A good team takes their chances, and I think they had five chances in that first 15 minutes and scored three goals. You tip your hat to them.”