CORAL GABLES, FLA. –  Courtney Jones had a goal and an assist and Megan Brigman, Kealia Ohai and Amber Brooks also scored goals as ninth-ranked North Carolina defeated Miami 4-1 in women’s soccer action before a crowd of 910 fans at Cobb Soccer Stadium Sunday afternoon.  The win stopped a two-game losing streak for the Tar Heels on Miami’s home field as Carolina improved to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the ACC.

 

Miami had won the last two meetings between the two teams in Coral Gables, winning in both 2007 and 2009 by identical 1-0 scores.  So Sunday was not only the first win for the Tar Heels at Miami since 2005 but also the first time Carolina had scored against the Hurricanes since a 4-0 win here on September 25, 2005.  The victory gave the Heels a sweep of their Florida swing this year.  The Tar Heels downed Florida State Thursday night 2-0 in Tallahassee.

 

The Tar Heels scored two first-half goals less than five minutes apart to take control of the match 2-0 at intermission.  UNC’s first half goals came from Megan Brigman, her fourth of the year, and Amber Brooks, her third tally of the season.

 

The Hurricanes had the first great opportunity to score as Miami’s leading scorer, Kate Howarth, got behind the UNC defense but her shot on an open goal from the top of the box slid just wide of the left post.

 

Carolina took advantage to score a little over eight minutes later.  The Tar Heels secured a corner kick and Courtney Jones notched her first assist of the day.  Jones sent her corner kick from the right side to the far post where defender Megan Brigman secured it, settled it and sent a shot it off the right post and in from short distance.  The goal came at 23:58 and was her fourth of the season, tying Brigman for the team lead.

 

It didn’t take long for the Tar Heels to double their lead.  Amber Brooks got possession and dribbled into the left side of the box.  As she turned to attack the goal, she was tripped up and UNC was awarded a penalty kick.  Brooks stepped to the mark and buried her shot down the middle for a 2-0 lead.  Brooks’ goal was her third of the campaign.

 

Carolina’s last best scoring chance came with 21 seconds left in the half but Miami goalkeeper Vikki Alonzo saved Bianca Gray’s shot from distance.  UNC outshot the Hurricanes 6-2 in the first half and had a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.

 

North Carolina increased its lead to 3-0 less than a minute into the second half.  Anna Sieloff, who came into the game at halftime in the goal, snared a Miami cross and quickly punted a long ball. Crystal Dunn then sent a short, looping pass over the top to Kealia Ohai.  The sophomore midfielder ran on to the ball in stride and finished into the lower left corner of the open goal from 15 yards out.  Ohai’s goal was her third of the year.

 

With 28:14 left in the second half, Jones increased her point total in the match to three as she scored to make it 4-0 Carolina.  Ranee Premji sent a nice touch pass past the back line of the Miami defense.  Jones got around her defender  and then sent a cross cage ball from 12 yards into the left side netting.  It was Jones’ third goal of the season and she scored in both games on the Florida swing.

 

Lees than two minutes after the goal by Jones, UNC’s Elizabeth Burchenal hit the right post with a long shot with 26 minutes to play in the game.

 

Miami broke through with a goal with 15:23 to play in the match.  Reserve Shannon Gaspar finished the scoring chance from 12 yards out in the right side of the box.  Ashley Flinn of the Hurricanes received the assist for her entry pass on the play.

 

Kealia Ohai had an excellent chance with just over five minutes to play but Vikki Alonzo dove to her right and snuffed out the shot.

 

With four minutes to play Tara Schwitter hit the left post with a shot for the Hurricanes.  The ball bounded around the box perilously but Anna Sieloff scrambled to cover it up before the Hurricanes had a chance for a rebound.

 

Miami fell to 7-3-1 overall on the season and 1-3-1 in the ACC with the loss.

 

UNC finished the match with a 16-8 edge in shots and a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.  Anna Sieloff made both saves for UNC on second half shots by the Canes while Vikki Alonzo finished with four saves.