UNC Women's Soccer 2026-2027
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I love it. As I stated before that is a lot of players from UNC. Our depth should be tremendous this coming year. Damon should be able to keep our players fresh this year by subbing them in and out which should bold well by putting constant pressure on the defensive with all of the depth that we are going to have. There is no way a player on this year's team should be playing all the minutes thereby wearing that player down when post season starts. Go Heels!
Notice that when US Women were down to 3 on 3 who they had in.
Antonucci
Herr
Harris
Antonucci
Herr
Harris
I think a lot of people forgot she reclassed and was essentially a HS senior last year. She has a ton of potential.
Well, she sat behind Tori Hansen and Maycee Bell her freshman year and Maycee Bell and Savy King her sophomore year... she wasn't getting any time because they weren't subbing any of those center backs out... and then she left with the huge exodus of players...
See this is why I said Damon is going to have to play and sub those center backs out. We have too much talent for him to do this this year; otherwise, we might have the same thing happened again at the end of next year.
So is Gaetino the starting 9 this year? I watched her a bit at TST. Or will Malsom be put there intstead?
I don't know as much about Deus. More of a forward or a 10?
I don't know as much about Deus. More of a forward or a 10?
Interesting question; I had not considered Gaeitino as center striker. Did she play this role at TST? she is still listed as a defender on our roster, but we do have depth and flexibility there.
Here are the players on our spring roster listed as Forwards or hybrid midfield/forwards. I have roughly ranked them in my opinion of the likelihood they would start as a center forward.
- 5-6 So MF/F Lauren Malsom (7 starts, 10 SH, 4 G, mostly in an attacking MF role, but was considered a center forward on the prep level )
- 5-7 So MF/F Bella Devey (starter as attacking MF/wing, 48 SH, 5 G)
- 5-3 Sr MF/F Lilliah Blum (Utah starter 43 SH, 4 G, from MF and wing F)
- 5-10 Fr F Leah Kuklick (unranked out of HS)
- 5-7 Jr F Logan Tongberg (deep bench last season)
- 5-9 So F Jenny Dearie (deep bench last season)
- 5-4 Sr MF/F Ella Smith (deep bench last season)
- 5-6 Amari Manning #24
- 5-7 Samantha Rich #74
- 5-5 Maggie Currie #84
- 5-4 Wylie Roosien (Unranked)
But that is obviously not the only way to go, many (most?) D1 teams start a more dynamic 5-6 to 5-9 striker more focused on speed and 1v1 skills. We simply do not have the former type of player on this roster it seems. So will will likely be fielding the latter. In general, this will be the smallest UNC team I can remember. At just about every position (even GK, lol).
Other options:
- 5-5 MF Fr Deus Stanislaus is listed as a MF on the UNC roster, but given the hole we need to fill, she cannot be ruled out,
- 5-4 MF Fr Scottie Antonucci is kind of the same: listed on our roster as a MF, but a serious talent and she will likely earn a place on the field.
- 5-8 Jr D Bella Gaetino is perhaps the best mix of size, strength and proven talent on the entire roster.
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Gaetino and Dues played at 9/10 during spring ball and neither were impressive. Gaetino's role with Sportiva was also attacking and I didn't see much, but she was subbed in and out a lot. And anybody can score in a 7v7. It's tough to say where Antonucci played during TST, but it was in upper half of the field. She is a possession player, so I could see her in a 10.
Johnny Yen, Dues is a freshman, man. She is suppose to still be in high school this semester and graduating from high school right now. Why are you trying to bash her? She has just got here and you are attacking her already. Stop it man, this is why players leave and hit the portal. Give her a chance. She has been playing with the US team this past semester. She is still learning Damon's system, bro. Gaetino is not a freshman, This is not her first semester being at UNC. Gaetino is a junior now. As a matter of fact, Johnny Yen, Dues is the only player on the roster that does not have a picture of her yet. Why is this? It is very simple. It like I just said, She is not been on campus long. Maybe a month at least. Here is a write up on Deus for you to read.
Attended Pennwood Cyber Charter School in Fort Washington, Pa. • Played club soccer at Players Development Academy (PDA) • U-14 ECNL National Champion • U-15 North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year • Two-time ECNL All-America • U-15 Nike Premier Cup Champion • U-15 USYNT Concacaf Champion • Jordie Maine Scholarship recipient • Member of the U-17 USYNT MIMA Cup roster. These accolades say something different than what you are saying Johnny Yen. Give her a chance. Apparently Deus has not had a chance to practice with our team long enough to build chemistry and know Damon's system. On the other hand Gaetino is going in her junior year and she should know our system by now.
Attended Pennwood Cyber Charter School in Fort Washington, Pa. • Played club soccer at Players Development Academy (PDA) • U-14 ECNL National Champion • U-15 North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year • Two-time ECNL All-America • U-15 Nike Premier Cup Champion • U-15 USYNT Concacaf Champion • Jordie Maine Scholarship recipient • Member of the U-17 USYNT MIMA Cup roster. These accolades say something different than what you are saying Johnny Yen. Give her a chance. Apparently Deus has not had a chance to practice with our team long enough to build chemistry and know Damon's system. On the other hand Gaetino is going in her junior year and she should know our system by now.
I don’t see anything wrong with what JornnyYen posted. We are speculating on best roles for players and everyone knows forward striker is a pretty big question mark.
My point was he kind of criticize Deus play and she has not been with our team long enough for him to do that. He is basing it off of spring ball and I was pointing out to him that she just got here and she had been playing with the USA team this semester; therefore, when she played during spring ball she was learning how Damon does things, trying to adjust the young women on the team, etc. That could have been her first time playing with the team. So with that information in mind of course she is not going to be impressive during that game. I think is fair to throw shade on her play when she just got here. Gaetino is going into her junior year so based on his statement it would appear that she has not gotten better at all. I think will need to wait and see once the season starts to give her a chance as well.
Not sure if that link works above, but Sealey is captain. Bella D comes in during the 2nd half, which means she'll likely start the next game.
Edited to add: this is an interesting roster in that it features mostly college players.
Across the front line: Portland Thorns (NWSL), Duke, UNC (Strawn)
Midfield: USL team, Northwestern, Florida
Backline: Duke, UVA, USC, FSU
Goal: UCLA
Edited to add: this is an interesting roster in that it features mostly college players.
Across the front line: Portland Thorns (NWSL), Duke, UNC (Strawn)
Midfield: USL team, Northwestern, Florida
Backline: Duke, UVA, USC, FSU
Goal: UCLA
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We have landed our first 2028 recruit:
M/F Valentina Perrotta. She is #58 by Prep Soccer and a U-16 USYNT member.
she was signed to an Academy contract and then started for the DC Power FC in the USL Super League at age 14.
M/F Valentina Perrotta. She is #58 by Prep Soccer and a U-16 USYNT member.
she was signed to an Academy contract and then started for the DC Power FC in the USL Super League at age 14.
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Another 2028 commit, another USYNT alumnus!
D/M Chloe Miller is the #8 2028 recruit according to PrepSoccer
D/M Chloe Miller is the #8 2028 recruit according to PrepSoccer
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Our 3rd 2028 commitment: Alysse Williams f St. Louis MO!
Westminster Christian Academy
Her club is St Louis Scott Gallagher (SLSG) Navy ECNL
I cannot find much on her history as of yet; she may be a bit of an unknown? Perfectly understandable for a rising Soph in HS: not all talent is identified and vetted nationally as of yet.
Westminster Christian Academy
Her club is St Louis Scott Gallagher (SLSG) Navy ECNL
I cannot find much on her history as of yet; she may be a bit of an unknown? Perfectly understandable for a rising Soph in HS: not all talent is identified and vetted nationally as of yet.
Incredible recruiting start for 2028! Damon's not wasting anytime.
While 4 and 5 stars are great on paper and are the expectation for this program..never count out these 3 stars. Alot of them are late bloomers that just havent quite separated themselves from the pack yet like the youth national team players. Hard part is identifying them.
Linda Ullmark is perfect example. Was largely unknown and ranked outside the top 200. Anson jumped. Got her to commit and all it took was one summer for her to blow up. The rest was history
While 4 and 5 stars are great on paper and are the expectation for this program..never count out these 3 stars. Alot of them are late bloomers that just havent quite separated themselves from the pack yet like the youth national team players. Hard part is identifying them.
Linda Ullmark is perfect example. Was largely unknown and ranked outside the top 200. Anson jumped. Got her to commit and all it took was one summer for her to blow up. The rest was history
Any idea how the U20WWC will impact UNC? Hope and Aven seem to be locks on that roster. Bella and Sealey could also be added. Malsom? Perhaps even Scottie. She had something on IG recently that listed her as a U19YNT player, so maybe she's being pulled up now? FSU and Stanford could also be missing a few players due to the WWC.
The games are Sept 5 through 27th. So including prep & Practice I think it is safe to assume any UNC player will be absent from roughly the start of season until around Oct 1st as worst case scenario, assuming USA advances to the finals.
The 2026 schedule is not out yet, but based on last year, we started on Aug 14th with an exhibition followed by 3 regular season games on or before 8-24. It is possible similar games this season might be early enough for world cuppers to play prior to heading to Poland.
Between 8/24 and 10/1 there were 7 more regular season games, including 3 ACC games.
I don't know who we stand to lose; your list I think are all possibilities . But the best guess is the U-20 roster from June friendlies in Spain; I doubt there will be too many changes?
Goalkeepers (2):
Caroline Birkel (Stanford; St. Louis, Mo.),
Evan O'Steen (Seattle Reign FC; Grapevine, Texas)
Defenders (7):
Aven Alvarez (UNC; New Hill, N.C.),
Ella Bard (Louisville; Wadsworth, Ohio),
Lizzie Boamah (Stanford; San Diego, Calif.),
Kiara Gilmore (Wisconsin; Allen, Texas),
Emma Johnson (Penn State; Greenfield, Ind.),
Hope Munson (UNC; Holladay, Utah),
Katie Scott (Kansas City Current; Fairview, Pa.)
Midfielders (5):
Kennedy Fuller (Angel City FC; Southlake, Texas),
Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign FC; Bedford, Texas),
Y-Lan Nguyen (Stanford; Fairfax, Va.),
Nyanya Touray (Florida State; Silver Spring, Md.),
Linda Ullmark (Houston Dash; Buffalo, N.Y.)
Forwards (6):
Emeri Adames (Seattle Reign FC; Red Oak, Texas),
Kimmi Ascanio (San Diego Wave FC; Doral, Fla.),
Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave FC; San Diego, Calif.),
Alex Buck (Washington; Medina, Wash.),
Onyeka Gamero (Bay FC; Cerritos, Calif.),
Micayla Johnson (Chicago Stars FC; Troy, Mich.)
USA has to turn in their roster maybe 3 weeks prior to the tourney start. so we may not know for sure until well after UNC camp starts.