UNC Women's Soccer 2026-2027

[JOB1937]

Yup

Interesting - it says they'll be available on Wednesday. Remember, last year they only offered single game tickets. So we had to move around a bit during the season, which was annoying. It seems to say that they're back to offering season tickets again, which is great.

Yes! And you get a 20% discount by buying season tickets.

As I predicted, they lost some $ last year by having folks buy single games. I know I only bought tickets for the games I was sure I could attend.

 

[3397char]

The ACC schedule is about as hard as is possible, in terms of who we play and who is omitted.

Who we play [# ACC 2025 standing, (RPI finish)]:

• #1 Stanford (5)*
• #2 ND (4)
• #3 dook (2)*
• @ #4T FSU (1)*
• @ #4T UVA (3)
• @ #4T 'ville (23)
• #8 Cal (45)
• @ #9 WF (27)
• @ #10T Clemson (31)
• #12 SMU (71)

*College Cup Team

The ACC Teams we do not play [# ACC 2025 standing, (RPI finish)]:

• #10T NCSU (107)
• #13 Pitt (68)
• #14T Miami (76)
• #14T BC (153)
• #16 Cuse (113)
• #17 VT (89)

Excluding ourselves, we play every single team in the top half, and only omit teams in the bottom half. We play every team that went to the NCAA's last season.

ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament – Nov. 8, 12 & 15, 2026
First Round: Campus Sites
Semifinals and Final: First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)
Tournament Format: Six-team bracket (No. 1 & 2 seeds receive a first-round bye)

Out-of-Conference Opponents 2025 RPI:

• #42 U of SC (exhb)*
• #37 Fairfield
• #127 Quinnipiac
• @ #28 Arky*
• #7 Mich St *
• @ #103 AZ
• @ #72 AZ St
• #209 NJIT
• #328 Alcorn St

*NCAAT Team

 

[UNCAlum83]

Interesting - it says they'll be available on Wednesday. Remember, last year they only offered single game tickets. So we had to move around a bit during the season, which was annoying. It seems to say that they're back to offering season tickets again, which is great.

RC members should have gotten an email yesterday afternoon w/ link to buy season tix for soccer (men & women) and volleyball (also includes a promo code/password to unlock) before public sale on Wed @ 10am. $25 deposit for each and you get to select your seats.

If you didn't get the email, call the ticket office; they can help you over the phone, too.

 

[Jriv23]

This year's schedule is brutal; however, we do have the talent now. Damon and staff will have to play a ton of players now to help cut down on injuries, exhausted, etc. He and his staff will need to take a page from Jenny and Erin on how to manage everyone minutes during games and throughout the season. Go Heels!

 

[JohnnyYen]

Am I blocked from sec 27 because I'm not a RC member?

 

[CornbreadandCollards]

Snapshot of the 2026 team:

Starters Lost:

1. Sr F Kate Faasse - 2024 NPOY, 2025 3rd Team All-ACC - 11 G, 6 A, .204 SH% - graduated, Houston Dash
2. So MF Linda Ullmark - 4th Team A-A, 3rd Team All-ACC - 7 G, 8 A, .121 SH%) - went pro, Houston Dash
3. Sr MF/D Tessa Dellarose - 3rd team 2024 All-ACC - 1 G, 2A, .333 SH% - graduated , Chicago Stars
4. Jr F Olivia Thomas - 3rd Team A-A, 1st Team All-ACC - 13 G, 7 A, .138 SH%) - went pro, Denver Summit

Other Losses:

• Fr F Eres Freifeld - 6 starts - 3 G, 0 A, .333% SH% - transferred to TCU
• Sr MF Eden Bretzer - 3 starts- 0 G, 1 A, 0% SH% on 4 attempts - grad transfer to AZ
• Gr D Ryann Brown - 8 games played - graduated
• Fr D Djem Koppelaar - 19 minutes played in 2025 - transferred to AZ St
• So GK Emile Maihs - DNP 2025 - transferred to Miami

Starters Returning:

1. Jr D Bella Gaetino - 2024 ACC All-Freshman Team, TDS Freshman 2nd Team A-A, 2025 TDS mid-season #81 - 21 Starts, 1 G, 1 A, .111 SH%
2. So D Hope Munson - 2025 ACC All-Freshman Team, TDS Mid-Season #5 Freshman - 20 starts, 0 G, 3 A, .000 SH% on 13 attempts
3. Jr MF Ashley Pennie - 20 starts, 0 G, 2 A, .000 SH% on 12 attempts
4. So MF/F Bella Devey TDS Mid-Season #3 Freshman - 21 starts, 5 G, 4 A, .104 SH%
5. Jr D Aven Alvarez - 15 starts, 0 G, 1 A, .000 SH% on 4 attempts, DNP in 6 games
6. Jr GK Hannah Johann - 10 Starts, took over job midseason, 11 GA 0.95 GA Avg, .711 SV%
7. Jr D Caitlyn Mara - 10 starts, 3 G, 0 A, .273 SH%

Some Starts:

• So MF Riley Kennedy - 9 starts #88 TDS Mid0Season Fr List - 0 G, 2 A, .000 SH% on 3 attempts
• So MF/F Lauren Malsom - 7 starts, 4 G, 2 A, .400 SH% - missed 7 games due to USWJNT
• Jr MF Shaela Bradley - Injured 2025, started 4 games prior - from Rutgers: TDS #12 ranked NCAA freshman, B1G All Freshman team as a prep 1st team All-American, Wash Gatorade POY
• Sr GK Abby Gundry - 8 starts, 7 GA 1.10 GA Avg, .696 Save %
• Fr GK Liya Brooks = 3 Starts 5 GA 1.41 GA Avg, .583 Save %

Incoming transfers for 2026 season:

1. Sr D Izzi Stratton from BYU (2022 Freshman A-A, 2023 Top IX- 2025 Big XII 2nd Team - 0 G, 1 A, .000 SH% on 24 attempts - somehow she has 51 career shot attempts, only 10 on goal, and 0 goals,
2. Gr MF Summer Denigan from UGA - 2025 1st team A-A, Herman Trophy Semifinalist, All-SEC - 11 G, 1 A, 0.196 SH%
3. Sr MF Lilliah Blum from Utah - 4 G, 0 A, .095 SH% (led her team)

Incoming Class of 2026:
UNC Signing Day Announcement
Top Drawer Soccer #1 Recruiting Class on signing day

Player_Name	National_Ranking	Team_USA	Awards_Notable	Pos	High School	State	Club Team	Signed_LOI
Scottlyn Antonucci	PrepS #2 2024 TDS #7 2026 TDS #7	U15, U16 (Captain), U17, U18	ECNL A-A, ECNL SW Conf POY, NIL deals with Nike and Invisalign	F/MF	Rancho Cucamonga	CA	Legends FC	Yes
Maggie Currie	2026 TDS #84	U17	PrepS #5 in CA, Cali-Hi regional POY, ECNL NorCal All-Conf, 2025 torn ACL?	MF/F	Leigh HS	CA	Mt View Los Altos	Yes
Leah Kuklick	unranked		PrepS #5 in NC, ECNL MidAtl All-Conf	F	N/A	NC	NC Courage	Yes
Ella Martinez	2023 TDS #31-60 "players to watch" 2026 TDS #64	USA U16, Colombia U17	PrepS #4 in GA, ECNL SE All-Conf	MF	Marietta	GA	Concorde Fire, Tampa Bay Sun	Yes
Cali O'Neill	PrepS 2024 Top 20 player TDS #12	U16, U17, U18	PrepS #3 in NC, ECNL MidAtl All-Conf	D	Seaforth HS	NC	NC Courage youngest ever on their U23	Yes
Samantha Rich	2026 TDS #74	U15, U17		F	Orinda	CA	Lamorinda	Yes
Wylie Roossien			USC All-State, 2025 USC A-A (90 on the team)	F	Phillips Andover	MA	FC Stars	Yes
Chloe Shroff	unranked			MF/D	Wilmington	NC	Wilmington Hammerheads
Deus Stanislaus	TDS #16 2025 TDS #15 2026 PrepS #6	U15 (Captain), U16, U17	ECNL A-A, PrepS #1 in NJ, ECNL NoAtl Conf POY, Gotham FC Youth training Camp	MF	Fort Wash	PA	PDA	Yes
Sealey Strawn	TDS #9 2026	U15, U19, U20	USL Super League Young POY, Player's Choice Young POY, Pro player for Dallas Trinity in Youth Prog	MF	Southlake Carroll HS	TX	FC Dallas, Solar Soccer	Yes
Peyton Trayer	TDS #36 2026	U17, U18	PrepS #4 in CA, ECNL SoCal All-Conf, Gotham FC Youth training Camp	GK	Santa Margarita	CA	Slammers FC HB Koge	Yes
Amari Manning	PrepS #16 for 2027 class, TDS #24 for 2026 class after reclassify	USA U15, U16, U17	PrepS #1 player in NJ, ECNL MidAtl All-Conf	F/MF	Immaculatta	NJ	PDA ECNL	Yes
Madeline DiMaria	PrepS #1 (2027) TDS #1 (2027) recently reclassified to 2026	USA U15, U16, U17	2025-26 Gatorade Female HS Athlete of the Year 2025-26 & 2023-24 Gatorade NPOY, 3X Gatorade MO POY, ECNL A-A	F	Fenton	MO	St. Louis Scott Gallagher	Yes

#1 2026 Recruiting Class still in April and May 2026 according to Top Drawer Soccer. On paper, this is the best recruiting class in recent history; since UNC's dynasty years.

*Note that 10 of the 21 player U-17 team were either already in college or on pro teams, and a few of others are HS juniors, so this is a really exclusive group: basically top 10 HS seniors. And Strawn is playing a level above.

Sealy Strawn is technically a pro player, but her Wikipedia and personal SM account still say she is committed to UNC. It says she is on an academy contract which allows her to retain eligibility. Recently named USL Super League Young Player of the Year (MOP under the age of 23) and also the Players Choice Young POY

test

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

Thanks for the thorough research

 

[UNCAlum83]

Am I blocked from sec 27 because I'm not a RC member?

27 is General Admission; you should be able to select the section, but there’s no seat assignment there

 

[airball]

View attachment 1367905

The ACC schedule is about as hard as is possible, in terms of who we play and who is omitted.

Who we play [# ACC 2025 standing, (RPI finish)]:

• #1 Stanford (5)*
• #2 ND (4)
• #3 dook (2)*
• @ #4T FSU (1)*
• @ #4T UVA (3)
• @ #4T 'ville (23)
• #8 Cal (45)
• @ #9 WF (27)
• @ #10T Clemson (31)
• #12 SMU (71)

*College Cup Team

The ACC Teams we do not play [# ACC 2025 standing, (RPI finish)]:

• #10T NCSU (107)
• #13 Pitt (68)
• #14T Miami (76)
• #14T BC (153)
• #16 Cuse (113)
• #17 VT (89)

Excluding ourselves, we play every single team in the top half, and only omit teams in the bottom half. We play every team that went to the NCAA's last season.

ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament – Nov. 8, 12 & 15, 2026
First Round: Campus Sites
Semifinals and Final: First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)
Tournament Format: Six-team bracket (No. 1 & 2 seeds receive a first-round bye)

Out-of-Conference Opponents 2025 RPI:

• #42 U of SC (exhb)*
• #37 Fairfield
• #127 Quinnipiac
• @ #28 Arky*
• #7 Mich St *
• @ #103 AZ
• @ #72 AZ Ouch
• #209 NJIT
• #328 Alcorn St

*NCAAT Team

Ouch. I am going to “like” your post for its value, but it‘s a tough like to swallow.

 

[Bricks]

View attachment 1367905

The ACC schedule is about as hard as is possible, in terms of who we play and who is omitted.

Who we play [# ACC 2025 standing, (RPI finish)]:

• #1 Stanford (5)*
• #2 ND (4)
• #3 dook (2)*
• @ #4T FSU (1)*
• @ #4T UVA (3)
• @ #4T 'ville (23)
• #8 Cal (45)
• @ #9 WF (27)
• @ #10T Clemson (31)
• #12 SMU (71)

*College Cup Team

The ACC Teams we do not play [# ACC 2025 standing, (RPI finish)]:

• #10T NCSU (107)
• #13 Pitt (68)
• #14T Miami (76)
• #14T BC (153)
• #16 Cuse (113)
• #17 VT (89)

Excluding ourselves, we play every single team in the top half, and only omit teams in the bottom half. We play every team that went to the NCAA's last season.

ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament – Nov. 8, 12 & 15, 2026
First Round: Campus Sites
Semifinals and Final: First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)
Tournament Format: Six-team bracket (No. 1 & 2 seeds receive a first-round bye)

Out-of-Conference Opponents 2025 RPI:

• #42 U of SC (exhb)*
• #37 Fairfield
• #127 Quinnipiac
• @ #28 Arky*
• #7 Mich St *
• @ #103 AZ
• @ #72 AZ St
• #209 NJIT
• #328 Alcorn St

*NCAAT Team

Brutal. In comparison:

• FSU avoids Stanford, UVA, Cal and SMU
• Stanford avoids FSU, UVA and Clemson
• Notre Dame avoids Louisville, WF and SMU; and
• Duke avoids Louisville, WF and Clemson

 

[tmatheny]

I apologize if this has already been discussed and I missed it but can someone give me some insight into this year's team.

 

[Jriv23]

Hi tmatheny, if you scroll up some and go to [B]CornbreadandCollards[/B] comments above you will see a detailed information done by 3397char that will give you everything you need to know about this year's team. He did an excellent job on this. I hope this helps.

​

 

[Anon182318]

Anyone have any new info about DiMaria? Is she for sure coming this summer/fall or could she be coming in Jan?

I haven't seen her appear in any social media yet. There is also the U17 world cup which took players away from a lot of the college season last year. Perhaps she's waiting until Jan?

I worry, and wouldn't be surprised, that she'll actually go pro. She's very good.

 

[tmatheny]

Hi tmatheny, if you scroll up some and go to [B]CornbreadandCollards[/B] comments above you will see a detailed information done by 3397char that will give you everything you need to know about this year's team. He did an excellent job on this. I hope this helps.

​

Thanks!

 

[3397char]

 

[Jriv23]

Welcome to the family, Carolyn. Go Heels!

 

[Kellymo0603]

Just wanted to come over here and wish yall good luck this season. Sure I’ll be rooting against yall, but I think yall are a good group of people

 

[JohnnyYen]

Tarheels picked 5th in preseason poll. Devey gets All ACC.

UNC Women's Soccer Picked 5th in ACC; Bella Devey Named Preseason All-ACC - Chapelboro.com

Looking at this roster, I'm a bit surprised by the low rank. The defense and mids are solid with depth. I'm a bit skeptical of the attackers, but I guess we'll see. If they really are 5th, then I'd love to see how good ND is.

 

[oldwell]

Tarheels picked 5th in preseason poll. Devey gets All ACC.

UNC Women's Soccer Picked 5th in ACC; Bella Devey Named Preseason All-ACC - Chapelboro.com

Looking at this roster, I'm a bit surprised by the low rank. The defense and mids are solid with depth. I'm a bit skeptical of the attackers, but I guess we'll see. If they really are 5th, then I'd love to see how good ND is.

8th in the country though by the first pre-season poll.

 

[rayram]

We may finish 5th in the conference because of the unbalanced schedules and still have a team with a good shot at the final four.

 

[JohnnyYen]

Eight ACC teams in the top 25. Wow.

Nineteen regular season games and 9 are ranked.

 

[Jriv23]

Does any one have information about the scrimmage we had with USC today? How did our women play? Did anyone on both the offensive side and defensive side catch your eye? or impressed you?

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

1-0 heels. Scored late, dominated possession. Second hand report

 

[JohnnyYen]

I have a bunch since I was talk texting Mrs Yen during the whole match. Goal by Dennigan from a baseline feed from Manning with about 6 minutes left. I would say it was 60/40 possession. As I said earlier (maybe on another forum), I think this team is going to have a lot of 0-0 draws, which is what this game looked like. They still don’t have an attack. Gaetino came off the bench early to the nine but was moved back to her natural position at left back about halfway through the first. Hope started on the right attack and scored about 20 minutes in off a beautiful feed from Scottie but it was called back after review for offsides. Hope moved back for most of the game. Lots of subs in and out. Aven was excellent in the CB. Devey started at the 9, played there a lot, got plenty of touches but didn’t convert anything. I think she got up for a header in the first. Kennedy, Aven, Pennie and Scottie had excellent games. Manning was also very good and may be an answer to the scoring threat. Again, not impressed with Deus. I think she had one shot that was high. Stratton came in for about 10 minutes and seemed to struggle with the pace. No sign of Mara. Overall, I’d say that they got to the attacking third but just seemed to stall out there. Oh, Trayer started in goal but didn’t get many touches. Brooks came in for the second half. She did the same thing as last year - playing way outside the box and challenging attackers with her feet. Seems like a bad idea.

edited to add the keepers' names.

 

[UltimateHeel]

Nana’s has to find an offense that can produce goals. No reason, with as much talent as we have, to struggle with scoring.

 

[Jriv23]

It is going to take some of the freshman a little bit of time to adjust. We must be patient with Deus and some other ones. I agree totally with you UltimateHeel. This is where the assistant coaches are suppose to come in and help. Damon's needs input, he cannot think and do it all. I am hoping that each game and each week the transfers and freshmen will continue to improve and get better. Overall, I glad that won the scrimmage to help with the team gaining confidence, etc. moving forward. Go Heels!

 

[Jriv23]

Damon gives his thoughts about yesterday's scrimmage against SC. In it, it let us know that Manning and Deus will miss the first three games of the season because they will be playing at the U-17 camp. This is why JohnnyYen I keep saying don't be too hard on Deus right now. Everytime you turn around since is gone with the USA team and this is why it is hard to develop any continuity and connectivity with her teammates when she is gone like she is and plus she is just a freshman. Missing practices at UNC; especially at this point is going to affect her no matter how good a player she is and being a freshman and new does not help as well. Here is the article for you to read.

UNC women’s soccer, trying to rebound despite roster turnover, wins exhibition -

CHAPEL HILL — After leading UNC to its 23rd national championship as interim coach in 2024, Damon Nahas’ first season without the interim title last year was a down year by program standards. Even still, the Heels came seconds away from making the Elite Eight, and Nahas said that context matters...

tarheeltribune.com

 

[3397char]

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for sharing 3397Char. Go Heels!

 

[Nate1972]

Our schedule says we play Fairfield Wednesday night. The Fairfield website says the game is Thursday night.

https://fairfieldstags.com/news/2026/8/10/womens-soccer-stags-kick-off-2026-season-at-unc-on-wednesday-night.aspx

I hope the teams can agree on a day to play.
Incidentally, the Fairfield site says they have a 33-5-3 overall record over the last two campaigns which features two regular season titles and the 2025 MAAC Championship, and that they hold the highest winning percentage in Division I during those two seasons.

 

[3397char]

Our schedule says we play Fairfield Wednesday night. The Fairfield website says the game is Thursday night.

https://fairfieldstags.com/news/2026/8/10/womens-soccer-stags-kick-off-2026-season-at-unc-on-wednesday-night.aspx

I hope the teams can agree on a day to play.
Incidentally, the Fairfield site says they have a 33-5-3 overall record over the last two campaigns which features two regular season titles and the 2025 MAAC Championship, and that they hold the highest winning percentage in Division I during those two seasons.

based on last season's RPI ranking, Fairfield is our 3rd toughest OOC game, and they are better than half the ACC (though not the half we play against.)

UNC just published a quick update confirming the game was moved to Thus Aug 11 at 7PM. Streaming on ACCNX

Women’s Soccer Home Opener Moved To Thursday - University of North Carolina Athletics

Due to travel circumstances, No. 8 Carolina women's soccer will now host Fairfield on Thursday for its home opener. The Tar Heels and Stags are still set for...

goheels.com

 

[JOB1937]

Our schedule says we play Fairfield Wednesday night. The Fairfield website says the game is Thursday night.

https://fairfieldstags.com/news/2026/8/10/womens-soccer-stags-kick-off-2026-season-at-unc-on-wednesday-night.aspx

I hope the teams can agree on a day to play.
Incidentally, the Fairfield site says they have a 33-5-3 overall record over the last two campaigns which features two regular season titles and the 2025 MAAC Championship, and that they hold the highest winning percentage in Division I during those two seasons.

The game was scheduled for tomorrow night but has been moved today until Thursday due to travel issues by Fairfield.

 

[JohnnyYen]

I'm not in touch with mens' soccer, so it was a surprise to me to hear they are considering a schedule that would bridge the fall and spring semesters. It sounded like the same number of games, just spread out. Are the women considering the same thing?

 

[Nate1972]

I'm not in touch with mens' soccer, so it was a surprise to me to hear they are considering a schedule that would bridge the fall and spring semesters. It sounded like the same number of games, just spread out. Are the women considering the same thing?

Anson long was in favor of this, but there are problems at schools like UNC which use the same facility for lacrosse and soccer.

 

[3397char]

I'm not in touch with mens' soccer, so it was a surprise to me to hear they are considering a schedule that would bridge the fall and spring semesters. It sounded like the same number of games, just spread out. Are the women considering the same thing?

Committee adopts 2-semester playing season for DI men’s soccer - NCAA.org

The Division I Men's Soccer Oversight Committee adopted legislation changing the sport's playing and practice season to two semesters, effective Aug. 1,

www.ncaa.org

The rationale for the men was to better align with the international calendar, which probably better aids international player recruitment. by not playing in the spring, players in college felt like they were subject to a development gap when compared to other pro development pathways

Women's soccer is not on that same calendar, recruits less overseas, and as of right now is focused on development for domestic pro leagues. The women moved up the start of the season and moved back the college cup just a little to allow more rest between matches, but otherwise stays the same. they have valued better school-sports balance (spring semester can focus on academics, internships, etc...) over heightened pro development.

I think the largest benefit for the college women's game is that their NCAA tournament will now stand alone for TV viewing eyes and media attention. The men have moved their tournament to the spring.

 

[RonaldMunt]

Interesting - I guess that would allow us to play Wake and UVa (among others) in the spring. I didn't understand why those 2 would be left off the published schedule (besides the wackiness of the current ACC).

 

[oldwell]

Quick start

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

Fairfield obviously overmatched, but I’m seeing a lot of skill from Unc

 

[bradarb08]

I love that Devey doesn’t play for the foul and go down easy. I wish more played like that across the sport.

 

[oldwell]

Fairfield obviously overmatched, but I’m seeing a lot of skill from Unc

Right and I believe someone said Fairfield was one of the best mid major teams.