DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Summer Green and freshman Annie Kingman tallied goals Sunday afternoon as 14th-ranked North Carolina defeated 18th-rated Arkansas 2-1 at the Duke Nike Classic at Koskinen Stadium.

 

The Tar Heels got two wins on the weekend against Top 20 teams as UNC improved to 3-2-1 on the season.  The Razorbacks are now 3-2-1 on the season as well.  On Friday, Carolina defeated seventh-ranked Penn State 1-0 in double overtime while Arkansas fell to Duke 3-0.

 

UNC finished with a 22-4 edge in shots against the Hogs, 11-2 in each half of the game.  UNC also had an edge in corner kicks 7-3.

 

The Tar Heels took the lead on Summer Green’s first goal of the season at the 16:20 mark of the match.  Senior holding midfielder Brooke Elby and Green kept possession for the Tar Heels in the left corner of the pitch for 30 seconds, playing a two-man game and probing for a weekness in the Arkansas defense.  That eventually came when Elby slipped the ball to Green who bent one over Arkansas goalkeeper Cameron Carter from just outside the 18-yard box in the 17th minute.

 

The Tar Heels’ lead was short-lived, however, as Arkansas answered with a goal by Margaret Power, her first of the season, assisted by Claire Kelly and Ashleigh Ellenwood.  Power finished the scoring chance with a volley to the left corner of the net from 12 yards out in the 19th minute of play.

 

With 20 minutes left in the first half, Carolina switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation and began to use its bench liberally.  Carolina had success with those changes late in the first half against Penn State Friday and they paid off again, this time not just with a possession advantage but also a pair of excellent scoring chances.

 

At 38:30, UNC freshman Annie Kingman produced the winning tally, gathering in a cross from the right side and burying it in the left corner past Carter.  The goal was the result of a strong buildup from the midfield that started with Darcy McFarlane feeding Katie Bowen near midfield.  Bowen dribbled deep into the Arkansas defensive area and slipped a ball to freshman Jewel Christian on the right side of the box.  Christian’s cross was dummied by Sarah Ashley Firstenberg, before Kingman niftily finished off the scoring chance.

 

Carolina had another good look at goal in the closing minutes of the first half with Christian clanging a shot from distance off the cross bar just before halftime.  UNC placed five of its 11 first half shots on goal.

 

Carolina continued to attack aggressively in the second half and had a clear territorial advantage.  Just minutes into the half, Summer Green hit the cross bar with a 25-yard shot and eventually UNC walked away with an 11-2 shot edge in the second 45 minutes.  But only two of UNC’s second half chances were on frame and the Tar Heels were never able to fully get separation.

 

Bryane Heaberlin went the full 90 minutes in goal for the Tar Heels to earn the win.  Carter played all 90 minutes for the Razorbacks.  She had five saves altogether.

 

UNC will now have a 13-day break in its schedule before starting conference play on Saturday, September 20 at Notre Dame against the #25 Fighting Irish.  That game will be played at 7 p.m. and will be nationally televised on ESPN3.