The Tar Heels were not supposed to be here this season. Not after losing six players to the NWSL draft, not after nine players transferred out, not after losing 21 players from the 2023 roster, and certainly not after the legendary Anson Dorrance abruptly retired days before the 2024 season. Yet here we are in December, and North Carolina is back in the College Cup, led by interim head coach Damon Nahas.

Nahas spoke to TopDrawerSoccer about what allowed this team to defy all odds and reach a stage no one thought was possible. “Just development. I love that in development, the challenges are every day. How do you get better every single day? It has kind of been my mindset. So, whether we had eleven starters returning, it still would have been the same process. . . You have to have players that are bought in and are willing to thrive in moments that maybe aren’t perfect, and want to be coached every single day and want to be accountable.”

That philosophy of leaning on player development has been evident all year for a team that has improved at every turn of the season, starting with seven clean sheets from eight after conceding six goals in the first three games. Then there was the win over Duke in the ACC tournament after losing to their arch-rivals twice in the regular season.

Another aspect that has allowed this team to gel much quicker than expected is the freedom Nahas and his staff has given each player to be themselves. “They are all really comfortable with being who they are. Obviously, we are trying to accomplish something as a team, but one of the strengths of the team is their personalities.”

The Elite Eight defeat of Penn State featured 13 players from 10 states. Of those 13, only five have been with North Carolina for more than two seasons, further highlighting a team that has formed elite chemistry at a rapid rate.

The new-look Tar Heels will now get a chance to defeat Duke once more for a trip to the College Cup final.

Ten Key Moments:

08/11/2024 - Anson Dorrance announces his retirement just four days before the season opener.

08/15/2024 - Nahas era begins with a 2-1 team at Denver. Tessa Dellarose scores the first goal for a North Carolina team not coached by Dorrance.

08/18/2024 - Faasse scores twice in final three minutes in a thrilling 3-2 comeback defeat of Colorado on the road.

10/03/2024 - Last game before Armstrong leaves for the U17 World Cup. Tar Heels struggle with three losses in the six matches Armstrong misses.

10/09/2024 - Kate Faasse comes in at No. 10 in the TDS Midseason Player Rankings. The only other Tar Heel on the list is No. 42 Aria Nagai.

10/11/2024 - Linda Ullmark comes in as the No. 1 ranked freshman in the TDS Midseason Freshmen Rankings, followed by Trinity Armstrong at No. 4, and Bella Gaetino at No. 43.

11/06/2024 - Six Tar Heels receive ACC honors. Armstrong and Kate Faasse land on the First Team. Madeline Dahlien and Tess Dellarose make the Third-Team. Armstrong joins Bella Gaetino and Linda Ullmark on the All-Freshman team.

11/07/2024 - Armstrong returns from the U17 World Cup to score the game winner versus Duke in the ACC semi final.

11/10/2024 - Narrowly lose to Florida State in the ACC tournament final.

11/29/2024 - Kate Faasse scores her team-leading 19th goal of the season to defeat Penn State in Elite Eight.

Ten Key Statistics:

• Kate Faasse tied for national lead with 19 goals. Most by a UNC player since Casey Nogueira in 2008.

• Faasse seven game winning goals are second most in the country.

• Six players with double-digit points (Faasse, Ullmark, Dellarose, Gaetino, Olivia Thomas, Bella Sember).

• Clare Gagne 11 shutouts are sixth most in the country.

• Only team with 20 wins in the country.

• 15 different goal scorers.

• Faasse, Ullmark, Dellarose, and Gagne are only players with more than 2,000 minutes.

• Emerson Elgin is the only returning starter from the 2023 NCAA tournament team.

• Just one goal conceded through the post season.

• Out scoring opponents 14 to 1 in post season.