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North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer
American college soccer team
American college soccer team
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| women's soccer | |
| logo | North Carolina Tar Heels logo.svg |
| logo_size | 110 |
| current | 2025 North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer team |
| university | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| founded | |
| conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| conference_short | ACC |
| city | Chapel Hill |
| stateabb | NC |
| state | North Carolina |
| coach | Damon Nahas |
| tenure | 2nd |
| stadium | Dorrance Field |
| capacity | 4,200 |
| nickname | Tar Heels |
| pattern_b1 | _northcarolina soccer 23h |
| leftarm1 | 7BAFD4 |
| body1 | 7BAFD4 |
| rightarm1 | 7BAFD4 |
| shorts1 | 7BAFD4 |
| socks1 | 7BAFD4 |
| pattern_b2 | _northcarolina soccer 23a |
| leftarm2 | ffffff |
| body2 | ffffff |
| rightarm2 | ffffff |
| shorts2 | ffffff |
| socks2 | ffffff |
| NCAAchampion | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2024 |
| NCAArunnerup | 1985, 1998, 2001, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
| NCAAfinalfour | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 |
| NCAAtourneys | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| conference_tournament | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017, 2019 |
| conference_season | 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 |
women's soccer
The North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer team represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I soccer.
North Carolina is one of the most successful women's college soccer teams, having won 22 of the 36 Atlantic Coast Conference championships, and 23 of the 43 NCAA national championships. The team has participated in every NCAA tournament.
History
The UNC women's soccer team began as a club team established by students looking for high level competition. In 1979,
thumb|left|North Carolina Tar Heels celebrate winning the 2006 [[NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship|Women's College Cup]] At the time, UNC had the only varsity women's soccer team in the Southeast and this allowed Dorrance to recruit the top talent in the region. In 1981, he recruited one of the most talented freshman squads in the history of women's soccer. Eight of those recruits won starting positions and took the team to the first, and only, AIAW national championship. This group would set the tone for Tar Heels soccer for down through its history. As Dorrance recalls it, "These were the true pioneers. They were given nothing. They were accustomed to taking things and so they weren't as genteel as the sort of young ladies we can recruit now. . . They were the sort of girls who would go downtown, burn it to the ground, . . . But then, they were on time for every single practice and in practice they worked themselves until they were bleeding and throwing up. They had a tremendous commitment to victory and to personal athletic excellence. And for that I admired them because they were a tremendous group. And even though, off the field, I think they all hated each other. But once the game began, there was a collective fury that just intimidated everyone they played against." Building on that competitive drive, the Tar Heels went on to win the first three NCAA championships, and dominate the sport for years to come.
Players
Current roster
All-time record
| North Carolina Tar Heels | border=1 | color= white }}" | Year | North Carolina Tar Heels | border=1 | color= white }}" | Head coach | North Carolina Tar Heels | border=1 | color= white }}" | Overall | North Carolina Tar Heels | border=1 | color= white }}" | ACC | North Carolina Tar Heels | border=1 | color= white }}" | ACC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tourn. | North Carolina Tar Heels | border=1 | color= white }}" | NCAA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tourn. | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |||||
| Anson Dorrance | 10–2–0 | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21–5–0 | – | – | AIAW Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23–0–0 | – | – | *AIAW Champions* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19–2–0 | – | – | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19–1–0 | – | – | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24–0–1 | – | – | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18–2–1 | – | – | Runner up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24–0–1 | – | – | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23–0–1 | 3–0–0 | – | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18–0–3 | 1–0–1 | Runner up | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24–0–1 | 4–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20–1–1 | 4–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24–0–0 | 4–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25–0–0 | 4–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23–0–0 | 4–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25–1–1 | 5–1–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25–1–0 | 7–0–0 | Champions | Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25–1–0 | 7–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27–0–1 | 7–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25–1–0 | 7–0–0 | Champions | Runner up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24–2–0 | 7–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21–3–0 | 4–3–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24–1–0 | 7–0–0 | Champions | Runner up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21–2–4 | 4–1–2 | Champions | Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27–0–0 | 7–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20–1–2 | 9–0–0 | Runner up | Third round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23–1–1 | 9–1–0 | Champions | Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27–1–0 | 10–0–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19–4–1 | 9–1–0 | Champions | Third round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25–1–2 | 9–0–1 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23–3–1 | 9–3–0 | Champions | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19–3–2 | 9–3–0 | Semifinals | Third round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13–5–2 | 6–3–1 | Quarterfinals | Third round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15–5–3 | 6–3–1 | Quarterfinals | Champions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20–5–0 | 10–3–0 | Semifinals | Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14–4–2 | 9–0–1 | Semifinals | Third round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15–5–1 | 7–3–0 | Semifinals | Second round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17–4–4 | 6–2–2 | Runner up | Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17–3–2 | 8–0–2 | Champions | Third round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21–4–2 | 10–0–0 | Runner up | Runner up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24–1–2 | 9–0–1 | Champions | Runner up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18–2–0 | 8–0–0 | Runner up | Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12–3–3 | 5–2–3 | — | First round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20–5–1 | 8–2–0 | Runner up | Runner up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13–2–8 | 5–0–5 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Damon Nahas | 22–5–0 | 7–3–0 | Runner up | Champions |
Team Honours
National
- NCAA Division I tournament (23): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2024
Conference
- Atlantic Coast tournament (22): 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017, 2019
Individual honors
National Coach of the Year
- Anson Dorrance – 1982, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006
ACC Coach of the Year
- Anson Dorrance – 1982, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2018, 2019
[[Hermann Trophy]]
- Shannon Higgins – 1989
- Kristine Lilly – 1991
- Mia Hamm – 1992, 1993
- Tisha Venturini – 1994
- Cindy Parlow – 1997, 1998
- Cat Reddick – 2003
- Crystal Dunn – 2012
- Kate Faasse – 2024
ACC Player of the Year
- Mia Hamm – 1990, 1992, 1993
- Cindy Parlow – 1998
ACC Defensive Player of the Year
- Crystal Dunn – 2013
ACC Offensive Player of the Year
- Heather O'Reilly – 2005
- Yael Averbuch – 2006
- Crystal Dunn – 2013
- Alessia Russo – 2018
ACC Rookie of the Year
- Tisha Venturini – 1991
- Cindy Parlow – 1995
- Laurie Schwoy – 1996
- Lindsay Tarpley – 2002
- Maycee Bell - 2019
NCAA Tournament MVP
- April Heinrichs – 1984 (last year overall MVP named)
Offensive Player of the NCAA Tournament
- April Heinrichs – 1985, 1986
- Kristine Lilly – 1989, 1990
- Mia Hamm – 1992, 1993
- Tisha Venturini – 1994
- Debbie Keller – 1996
- Robin Confer – 1997
- Susan Bush – 1999
- Meredith Florance – 2000
- Heather O'Reilly – 2003, 2006
- Kealia Ohai – 2012
- Olivia Thomas – 2024
Defensive Player of the Tournament
- Suzy Cobb – 1983
- Carla Overbeck – 1988
- Tracy Bates – 1989
- Tisha Venturini – 1991
- Staci Wilson – 1994
- Nel Fettig – 1996
- Siri Mullinix – 1997
- Lorrie Fair – 1999
- Cat Reddick – 2000, 2003
- Robyn Gayle – 2006
- Satara Murray – 2012
- Clare Gagne – 2024
First Team All-America Selection
As of 2011, North Carolina had 70 players gain first-team All-American recognition. The next two schools with the greatest number of All-Americans were tied with twenty-two each.
Retired numbers
Main article: List of retired numbers in association football
19 – USA Mia Hamm, forward, 1989–1993. Number retired in 1994.
- Although the university retired Hamm's #19 in 1994, it was later unretired and given to other players since.
Notable alumnae
- Emily Pickering
- Tisha Venturini
- Mia Hamm
- Sarina Wiegman
- Kristine Lilly
- Heather O'Reilly
- Meghan Klingenberg
- Lori Chalupny
- Whitney Engen
- Lucy Bronze
- Katie Bowen
- Tobin Heath
- Crystal Dunn
- Kendall Fletcher
- Ashlyn Harris
- Allie Long
- Jessica McDonald
- Lotte Wubben-Moy
- Alessia Russo
- Meredith Florance
- Lois Joel
- Emily Fox
- Rosalind Berhalter
References
References
- [https://goheels.com/news/2000/8/5/205490564 The History of Carolina Women's Soccer] by Dave Lohse – UNC, 5 Aug 2000
- [http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/2007-081506aac.html "2007 North Carolina Women's Soccer Media Guide." ] ''tarheelblue.com.'' Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
- [https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/unc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2024/8/1/2024_WSRB.pdf?timestamp=20240801071259 ''2024 Women's Record Book''] on goheels.com
- they petitioned the UNC Athletic Director, [[Bill Cobey]], to take the club to the varsity level. Cobey asked [[Anson Dorrance]], then the UNC men's soccer coach to assess the club's ability to transition to varsity status. Dorrance was impressed enough by the club, then coached by Mike Byers, to recommend that the school form a women's soccer team. Cobey agreed and hired Dorrance as head coach, with Byers as an assistant, for the 1978 season. That year, the Tar Heels played an essentially club schedule, including games against high school teams. However, in 1979, the [[Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women]], at the prompting of Dorrance and University of Colorado coach, Chris Lidstone, established a national women's soccer program.[http://research.wsulibs.wsu.edu:8080/dspace/bitstream/2376/559/1/M_Robertson_072706.pdf EXPLAINING VARIATION IN THE SEX COMPOSITION OF COACHES FOR WOMEN’S INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC TEAMS]{{dead link. (February 2018)
- [http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/html_use/L-0054.html Interview with Anson Dorrance, June 11, 1991]
- "2025 Women's Soccer Roster". University of North Carolina Athletics.
- [http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_soccer_RB/2012/D1.pdf "Official 2012 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Records Book." ] ncaa.org. Retrieved on March 23, 2008.
- [https://www.ncsoccerhalloffame.org/Hall-of-fame/mia-hamm Mia Hamm profile] on NC Soccer Hall of Fame
- [https://www.espn.com/classic/s/add_hamm_mia.html Feet of gold] on ESPN.com
- [https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/unc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2025/3/20/2025_WSRB.pdf "2024 Roster & Pronunciation Guide"] on 2025 Women's soccer record book – UNC Athletics
- "NO GAME IS TOO FAR (1992): Egan, Santana drive 350 miles to play".
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