CHAPEL HILL, N.C.  – Six different members of North Carolina’s third-ranked women’s soccer team scored their first goals of the 2011 season Sunday afternoon as the Tar Heels’ offense exploded for a 6-1 victory over the University of Houston in the final game of the Carolina Nike Classic.  Sophomore Kelly McFarlane and freshman Brooke Elby scored their first career goals and Kealia Ohai, Rachel Wood, Megan Brigman and Emmalie Pfankuch also tallied for the Heels in front of a crowd of 1,211 at Fetzer Field.

 

The Tar Heels improved to 3-0 heading into next Sunday’s 6 p.m. game at 2010 NCAA semifinalist Ohio State.  That will be the second straight match in which the Tar Heels will face a team coached by an alumna.  The Cougars are coached by Susan Bush, ’03, while the Buckeyes are mentored by Lori Walker, ’92.

 

Senior Adelaide Gay made her first career start for the Tar Heels against the Cougars, who fell to 0-3 on the campaign.  Gay went all 90 minutes and made a career-high three saves while allowing only one goal.  George Sydney played all 90 minutes in goal for Houston. She made six saves and allowed six goals.

 

UNC outshot the Cougars 32-13 and had an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.  Only 13 of UNC’s 32 shots were on frame, however.  Carolina was efficient with its on-goal tries, scoring on 46 percent of them.

 

The Tar Heels opened the scoring in the game’s ninth minute.  Senior Courtney Jones, who had a goal and an assist in UNC’s 2-1 win over top-ranked Notre Dame on Friday, sent a corner kick from the left side that found Megan Brigman at the far post.  Brigman redirected the ball to the feet of Kelly McFarlane and the sophomore midfielder finished from the two-yard line for her first career goal at 8:29.

 

Just over six minutes later, Houston tied the score as the Cougars capitalized on a counter attack after successfully clearing away a UNC corner kick.  Alexis Weaver stole a pass at midfield from Meg Morris and took off down the right sideline.  Two Cougars got free behind the UNC defense, giving Weaver a choice of targets.  She found Jessica Zavalza in stride and Zavalza settled the ball in the middle of the box and finished past Gay to tie the score at the 14:49 mark.

 

The Tar Heels took the lead for good less than five minutes later as sophomore forward Kealia Ohai gathered in the ball 35 yards away from the goal, dribbled in unimpeded and then finished with authority into the top right corner from 18 yards away.

 

The Tar Heels extended their lead to 3-1 in the 33^rd minute.  Emmalie Pfankuch was fouled just outside the box on the end line, setting up a free kick for the Tar Heels.  Amber Brooks then served a perfect ball to the far post where Rachel Wood buried a header into the back of the net at 32:45.  It was Wood’s first goal since October 1, 2010 when she tallied in a 3-0 win at NC State and her fifth career goal.

 

Leading 3-1 at halftime, the Tar Heels put the game away in the early minutes of the second half, allowing Head Coach Anson Dorrance to empty his bench.  Twenty-three Tar Heels played in the match, all clocking at least 11 or more minutes.

 

The lead grew to 4-1 at 47:59 off another Courtney Jones corner kick.  Jones’ corner came from the left side.  Brooks was there to head it on to McFarlane who redirected to Brigman for a putaway at the far post.  The goal was the second of Brigman’s career and her first since September 4, 2010 against Tennessee.

 

The prettiest goal of the day came in the 65^th minute as Emmalie Pfankuch finished off a brilliant series of passes for her sixth career goal at 64:10.  Rachel Wood started the sequence with a pass from UNC’s defensive side of midfield to Meg Morris on the left flank.  Morris carried the ball deep into the attacking zone and fed a ball to Pfankuch just outside the top of the box.  Pfankuch took a couple of dribbles and then buried a right-footed shot into the right side for a 5-1 lead.

 

The Tar Heels finished off the scoring at 74:57 as freshman midfielder Brooke Elby notched her first career goal.  Alyssa Rich got on the doorstep and punched a shot that Sydney knocked away but Elby pounced on the rebound to score into the empty net.