For the first time in program history, the UNC women’s soccer team lost after leading by two goals.
I didn’t get to see this game, and on paper it doesn’t make much sense. Over the weekend, #10 Duke and #1 UNC played Texas A&M and UNC-Greensboro, but not each other, in the Duke Nike Classic. The Blue Devils pounded A&M into submission on Friday, winning 7-2, while UNC topped UNC-G 2-0 (UNC’s goals here). On Sunday, the expectation was that the Tobacco Road powers would grab two more wins. Duke held up its end, winning 2-0. After her great weekend, in which she notched two goals and four assists, Alaskan freshman Kelly Cobb was named TopDrawer’s National Player of the Week. You can see the Duke highlights below. Kaitlyn Kerr’s nifty goal is at 1:45, and Erin Koballa strikes at 3:30.
But UNC would not follow suit against A&M. After holding a 3-1 lead with 20 minutes left, they proceeded to melt down, finally losing 4-3 in overtime (UNC goals here).
You know what this means, right? We have to start talking about it. It has to be said.
There is a possibility that Duke is better than UNC.
One way or another, I’m pumped for the Tobacco Road Derby.
On the men’s side, the #1 ranked Heels fell too. Not a good week to be a national title favorite in Chapel Hill, apparently. On enemy turf in Blacksburg, Carolina lost 1-0 to Virginia Tech in overtime.
I actually got to see the Duke men’s team on Fox Soccer in the NCAA game of the week. It wasn’t pretty- they lost to #24 Virginia 1-0 in a match that included a late penalty miss by the Devils. They’re now 1-4 on the year, and the outlook for the Derby isn’t rosy.
Elsewhere:
-The #1 Tar Heels kept their perfect field hockey record with an 8-0 thumping of Lafayette.
-#9 Duke is now 5-1, squeaking by Longwood 1-0. And hey, highlights! Luckily, the video of the goal happens right away, on a penalty by (British?) sophomore Emmie Le Marchand. It’s kind of a fascinating ritual, actually.
And wow, great work by the field hockey videographer! Intersplicing interviews and the correct highlights? Advanced. Puts the women’s soccer stuff to shame.
-UNC volleyball (unranked) moved to 6-2 on the year with sweeps against Arizona State and Georgia Southern.
-The #23 Dukies did some bumping and setting and spiking, one imagines, in a 1-3 loss to San Diego. It was the third straight loss for the Devils, who are now 4-3 on the season.
-The Duke Men’s Cross Country squad won the JMU Invitational! That’s their second straight win, and they’re now ranked 7th in the Southeast Region (UNC is #5).