
SMU overmatched by No.4 UNC (Photo by Nick McCarthy, The Daily Campus)
Soccer fans braved the sun and the heat to visit Pizza Hut Park in Frisco Sunday to see SMU take on the No. 4 University of North Carolina Tar Heels. SMU was outmatched by UNC who appeared faster and quicker. The Tar Heels won the game 3-0.
The first half was dominated by the Tar Heel’s offense. SMU played strong but was unable to get anything going on their end. The Mustangs held their own through the twenty-fifth minute when Tar Heel sophomore Yael Averbuch connected with the back of the net to begin the game’s scoring. Then, just two and a half minutes later, Averbuch scored again hitting the upper right corner of the goal. This was more than enough for the Tar Heels to take the game.
Ashley Gunter, SMU goalkeeper, looked strong, but couldn’t keep up with the onslaught of shots from North Carolina. Gunter, a sophomore from Lancaster, Penn., did show her jumping ability on a couple of occasions knocking the ball just over the goal. Gunter was forced to make 10 saves on 20 shots, whereas Carolina’s keeper, Anna Rodenbough, only needed to make one save on four shots.
In the second half the Tar Heels clamped down on defense. Anytime the Mustangs got it deep into the offensive zone powder blue jerseys would quickly surround them. With 30 minutes left in the game, the Mustangs had their only scoring chance when junior Kimber Bailey pounded a shot on goal that was blocked by Rodenbough, from there on it was all North Carolina again.
The Tar Heels relaxed into a defensive stance throughout the second half, but still managed to earn some scoring chances while taking away SMU’s. Anytime SMU looked to make a run, North Carolina’s defense put a quick stop to it.
With four minutes left in the last half, the defensive-style offense came through for the Tar Heels, when Katie Brooks connected with the ball already on its way into the net.
The last four minutes resembled a giant game of keep away. The Mustangs were unable to string together multiple touches on the same possession and were forced to turn the ball over to the Tar Heels who controlled it for the majority of the game.
A positive note for the Mustangs was goalkeeper Ashley Gunter who managed impressive playing in the disappointing loss.