DURHAM, N.C.  –   Crystal Dunn’s goal in the 79th minute proved the difference as #1 North Carolina defeated #2 UCLA Friday night before 1,805 fans at the Duke Nike Classic played at Koskinen Stadium.  The Tar Heels improved to 5-0 with the victory while UCLA fell to 4-1.

Carolina outshot the Bruins 23-6 on the night but a brilliant effort by Bruin goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland kept the Tar Heels off the scoreboard until Dunn notched her fifth goal of the season and second game-winner of the campaign at 78:40.  Megan Brigman sent a ball from the right side to Brooke Elby 20 yards out top.  Elby slipped the ball through a pair of defenders to Dunn who one touched it and then buried a shot from 12 yards out into the lower right corner.

Prior to that, Rowland had kept the Tar Heels at bay all night, recording a pair of brilliant saves on Tar Heel shots in the first half.  In the 20th minute, Rowland tipped away a shot by Dunn which was headed into the upper right corner of the frame.  In the 29th minute, the Tar Heels almost took the lead as after a UCLA foul, Alex Newfield sent a shot which seemed destined for the upper left 90 only to be parried over the end line by Rowland.  Carolina outshot the Bruins 13-2 before halftime.

With 20 minutes to play in the second half, Kealia Ohai hit the right post for the Tar Heels.  Two minutes, UNC goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin dove to her right to save a shot by Rosie White, the best scoring opportunity of the night for the Bruins. Dunn’s fifth goal followed a little less than seven minutes later and proved to be the decisive strike in the contest.

The Bruins had two shots in the last three minutes of the game but could not gain the equalizer as UNC improved to 9-0 all-time against the Bruins.

Carolina had an 11-1 edge in corner kicks.  Anna Sieloff and Bryane Heaberlin combined on the shutout with two saves in the second by Heaberlin, who is now 5-0 on the season in goalkeeper decisions.  Rowland finished with seven saves for UCLA.

Carolina returns to the pitch Sunday at 11 a.m. against #9 West Virginia (3-0-2).  The Mountaineers played Duke to a 1-1 tie in the opening game Friday.  Duke and UCLA will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday.

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