North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall Rank: #1
Conference Rank: #1 ACC
North Carolina Team Page
The North Carolina Tar Heels overcame a difficult regular season and the challenge of having to win on the road at BYU in the Elite Eight to secure the program’s 22nd National Championship in 2012. It can be argued that 2012 was the best pure coaching job by Anson Dorrance in being able to regroup his team after being eliminated at home against Virginia in the ACC Quarterfinals and having his team ready to play its best soccer of the season when it counted the most in the 2012 postseason.
2012 Record: 15-5-3, 6-3-1
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Anson Dorrance
Strengths:
The offensive talent with Crystal Dunn, Kealia Ohai, and Summer Green is going to be a very difficult trifecta to deal with for the rest of women’s college soccer. Dunn earned a call up to the US Women’s National Team earlier this spring. Dunn has probably the best all-around skillset that will make her the most likely number one overall draft pick in the 2014 NWSL Draft. Ohai and Green are the two most productive attackers returning as they combined for 16 goals and 13 assists in 2012. Their production offensively is going to be the springboard for the rest of the offensive attack in 2013 for North Carolina. The Tar Heels defense was very good last season as they only allowed 17 goals. Sophomore Hanna Gardner will be called upon to lead the backline in 2013 for the Tar Heels. Gardner’s play will be very important, especially early in the season until the goalkeeper situation gets resolved.
Weaknesses:
Someone needs to step up and replace the production of Adelaide Gay to solve the goalkeeping situation. Bryane Haeberlin and Anna Sieloff have the most returning experience. Sieloff put up solid numbers in six matches and ended up with a 1-0-1 record and did not allow a goal. I would look for a multiple goalie rotation early on in 2013 for North Carolina, as it is definitely not uncommon for the Tar Heels to play two goalies on a regular basis. In addition, as defending champions, everyone will taking their best shot at the Tar Heels so the focus will definitely need to be on being ready to deal with getting every team’s best shot each match.
Final Projection:
The non-conference schedule will provide some good tests for Coach Dorrance’s North Carolina team heading into conference play. The season opener against Santa Clara on August 23rd in the Klockner Classic, along with UCLA in the Duke Classic, will definitely test this loaded, experienced squad. A clash of conference superpowers is scheduled for September 15th as Notre Dame takes on the Tar Heels at Fetzer. Then, that next Wednesday a trip to Florida State looms. The Tar Heels have had their share of epic battles in Tallahassee and 2013 should not be any different. It will be a tall task for North Carolina to run the table with a completely clean sheet in the ACC schedule. The key for Carolina will be to navigate the conference schedule well enough to be healthy, in the top couple slots in the conference, and like last year, play at their highest level during the postseason. If they can stay healthy, play consistent, and get superstar quality from Ohai and Dunn, this Carolina team should be one of the top four national seeds with home field advantage throughout until the College Cup.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Kealia Ohai, Senior, Forward, 9
Assists: Summer Green, Sophomore, Forward, 8
Shots: Summer Green, Sophomore, Forward, 62
Saves: Bryane Haeberlin, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, 8
Madness 2014 NWSL Draft Rankings:
#1 Crystal Dunn
#4 Kealia Ohai
Madness 2013 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#5 Amber Munerlyn
#6 Joanna Boyles
#27 Emily Bruder
#42 Amanda Rooney
#46 Jenny Chiu
#52 Cameron Castleberry
#71 Summer Green
#122 Maggie Bill
See All Women's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
