Vols Fall To No. 2 North Carolina

Saturday, March 27

Knoxville, TN

6:30 PM

University of Tennessee

8-6-1, 4-3-1

North Carolina

13-1-0, 8-0-0

North Carolina

Tennessee

Photo by: Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

March 27, 2021 | Soccer

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee soccer team fell at home to No. 2 North Carolina by a score of 7-0 Saturday night at Regal Soccer Stadium. Led by hat tricks from Ruby Grant and Brianna Pinto, the Tar Heels took a 3-0 lead into halftime and scored four goals in the final 15 minutes to bury the match.

"Tough final score line to swallow," head coach Brian Pensky said after the match. "Our kids played hard for 75 minutes and had some really good moments. At that point in the game, shots were pretty even and I believe we had more corner kicks than they had. We had some pretty good looks, too.

"Then we just king of wilted, got tired and lost our edge. The players know that's not okay, and we'll learn from that."

After a scoreless opening 24 minutes that saw just one shot attempt for either side, Carolina (13-1-0, 8-0 ACC) broke through as Grant tallied from inside the six following a Tar Heel corner kick. The initial service was headed out by UT midfielder Hannah Tillett, before UNC freshman Sam Meza sent a second ball in to Grant who found the lower left netting.

The Heels doubled their advantage two minutes later as Pinto poked one past Lindsey Romig in the 26th minute. The UNC attacking midfielder connected on a cross from Aleigh Gambone, who came off the bench and finished the night with a game-high three assists.

Grant earned her second tally in the 36th minute on a 15-yard right-footed strike into the lower right corner on the counter attack. Gambone served a long ball from the midline, Grant made a run on the ball and put it away to give UNC a 3-0 edge at the break.

Despite the goal difference at halftime, Tennessee (8-6-1, 4-3-1 SEC) had its opportunities in the opening frame. The Vols ended the first period with 6-5 lead in shots and a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks, taking four of those in the final 10 minutes of the half.

"Games are won and lost in the final 12 yards of each box," Pensky said. "That was certainly the difference in the first half. Shots are 6-5 for us at half, but we're trailing 3-0. Our kids kept playing and competing in the second half, until that final 15 minutes."

North Carolina's depth proved insurmountable, as the Tar Heels played 19 field players on Saturday compared to 11 for the Volunteers. After an evenly played half-hour to open the second period, the Tar Heels left no doubt with an onslaught of four goals in the final 15 minutes to seal the victory. Isabel Cox (76'), Pinto (85', 90') and Grant (87') found the back of the net for Carolina in the closing minutes.

UNC finished the night with 17 shots and 13 shots on goal, compared to nine attempts for the Vols with one on target by junior forward Mackenzie George. The Tar Heels were the aggressors with 11 fouls on the night, while UT committed just two.

UP NEXT: The 2020-21 regular season will wrap up on the road when the Vols visit Louisville on Saturday, April 10. The match will kick off at 2 p.m. at the Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.