UNC Women's Soccer 2026-2027

[3397char]

I don't want to overstate the importance of one game, but #11 Stanford coming to town this Friday is by far our toughest remaining regular season game. Win and we remain in the driver's seat for the ACC regular season title and ACCT #1 seed. Tie or lose and we will have multiple teams at or above us in the standings.

It is important to note that ND (2 points behind us), Louisville (3 points behind us), FSU (4 points behind us) and Miami & Stanford (5 points behind us) have one more game remaining than we do. They have opportunity to gain ground that we cannot combat when we are not playing. WF, dook and UVA all have 3 games remaining which is the same as us.

2026 Women's Soccer Standings

SCHOOL	Pts.	ACC	Pct.	GF-GA	Overall	Pct.	Home	Away	Neutral	Streak
North Carolina	15	5-1	.833	45-11	12-2	.857	7-1	5-1	0-0	L1
Notre Dame	13	4-1-1	.750	30-13	6-1-6	.692	6-0-3	0-1-3	0-0	W2
Wake Forest	13	4-2-1	.643	25-8	11-2-1	.821	8-1	3-1-1	0-0	W1
Louisville	12	3-0-3	.750	34-13	9-1-3	.808	5-1-1	4-0-2	0-0	T1
Duke	12	3-1-3	.643	38-11	8-1-4	.769	4-0-2	4-1-2	0-0	W2
Virginia	12	4-3	.571	29-9	8-3-2	.692	6-1-1	2-2-1	0-0	W2
Florida State	11	3-0-2	.800	21-9	7-1-3	.773	1-0-2	6-1-1	0-0	W3
Stanford	10	3-2-1	.583	32-9	9-2-2	.769	6-1-1	3-1-1	0-0	W2
Miami	10	3-2-1	.583	22-14	9-3-2	.714	3-1-2	6-2	0-0	W1
NC State	10	3-3-1	.500	37-15	10-3-2	.733	6-2	4-1-2	0-0	W1
Clemson	8	2-3-2	.429	25-13	6-4-4	.571	4-2-3	2-2-1	0-0	L1

The good news is there are still many games to be played among the top 9 teams. The more ties, the better, just so one team does not emerge unscathed, gaining points. That does not really apply as much to UNC, because again, one less game remaining. I could see us surviving one tie or loss with some help, but certainly not two.

 

[Nate1972]

U17 took care of Kenya 6-1. DiMaria with 4 1st half goals, the first after Amari carried the ball to the left endline, and crossed the ball into the box.

 

[3397char]

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup:

Maddie DiMaria scores 4 more goals versus Kenya as team USA wins 6-1.

She now has 10 goals in two games, plus one last year for a USA U-17 World Cup career goals record of 11

Current and future UNC players on Team USA through 2 games:

	Name	Starts	Minutes	Goals	Assists	Class
1	Maddie DiMaria	2	160	10	1	2027
2	Gianna Hanf	0	61	2	1	2027
3	Amari Manning	2 (C)	119	1	3	2026
4	Deus Stanislaus	1	75	1	0	2026
5	Carolina Reyna	1	119	2	1	2027
6	Grace Murray	2	172	1	0	2027

USA (2-0) clinched a Play-off spot with the win, but will face China (also 2-0) to close out the group stage and determine seeding. USA clinched the goal differential, so we take top spot with the win or a tie. The game is 11 AM EST on Sunday. Looks like it might be on some combination of Peacock, FS2, and Telemundo Deportes Ahora

 

[3397char]

U17 took care of Kenya 6-1. DiMaria with 4 1st half goals, the first after Amari carried the ball to the left endline, and crossed the ball into the box.

Beat me to it!

 

[Kellymo0603]

Can she just go pro pretty please. Would rather not have fsu play her

 

[Well_Heeled]

Win percentage does not matter, it is points, like in most levels of soccer: 3 for a win and 1 for a tie.

Sure I get that. My point was just that I don't rule out a team with the second highest percentage getting results against Notre Dame and Duke, who aren't invulnerable by any means. They have 11 points and 4 games remaining. Usually, 20 points gets you to the tournament — i.e. 3 wins from their remaining games. I think 18 points (2 wins and a draw) is probably enough this year and they would be hoping for luck with 2 wins and 2 losses leaving them on 17. Given how many Notre Dame have been drawing, I wouldn't be surprised if that game is a draw.

I agree Stanford is a huge game. Their record is arguably artificially deflated because their two losses came when they were missing 5 players during the under 20 world cup. Style wise, this is exactly the team we want to play: a high tempo team that presses and tries to dominate. Given our strength in midfield, that makes me think we'll get a win, especially at home. The type of team we look vulnerable to is defensively minded, scoring from counterattacks and headed set pieces — that's not Stanford's style.

 

[Jriv23]

Can she just go pro pretty please. Would rather not have fsu play her

No, I want her to play at least one year with Amari and Deus. When FSU was winning and dominating, they had players on those teams that were just like DiMaria and nobody was sawing what you just said about them going pro.

 

[JohnnyYen]

That Kenya goal in garbage time was beautiful. US was up by 6, so it didn't matter in the slightest, but Kenya looked in a high press and won the ball on a tackle. She let it fly from about 45 yards out near the sideline and caught the keeper a bit high. It just cleared the cross bar. Under any other circumstances, that should've made ESPN's top 10.

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Nice to see USA off to a good start in that tournament, but they haven’t played anyone competitive yet, so it feels like fool’s gold until they prove it. Still really disappointed in how the U20s did last month.

And North Korea looks like the huge favorite to win this tournament too (like they did with the U20s). They are just absolutely dominating youth womens soccer in recent years. It’s so baffling and something about it just feels off.

 

[oldwell]

Does Stanford have players out for U-17?

 

[Jriv23]

Nice to see USA off to a good start in that tournament, but they haven’t played anyone competitive yet, so it feels like fool’s gold until they prove it. Still really disappointed in how the U20s did last month.

And North Korea looks like the huge favorite to win this tournament too (like they did with the U20s). They are just absolutely dominating youth womens soccer in recent years. It’s so baffling and something about it just feels off.

Not really, the US has some many women's sports for females now starting with little league, etc. We are talking about flag football, basketball, lacrosse, gymnastics, track and field, soccer, volleyball, etc., that the talent is being stretch across all of these sports where as North Korea only has one real sport which is soccer where they are putting all of their time, resources, etc. into that one sport. If we did that and did not have all of the other sports for women like North Korea is doing, can you image how much talent we would have just for soccer alone.

 

[Jriv23]

Does Stanford have players out for U-17?

Good question. I do not think so. When I watched the US play the other day, I do not recall seeing anyone on the U-17 team from Stanford. I could be wrong.

 

[oldwell]

Good question. I do not think so. When I watched the US play the other day, I do not recall seeing anyone on the U-17 team from Stanford. I could be wrong.

I checked, no there are not.

Will need to be on our A game. Can’t drop back to back.

Big night ahead for Olympic sports.

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Looking forward to this game. Interested to see if any lineup changes are made in the back. And regardless of who plays. I hope to see no glaring breakdowns like we had a couple of against Wake.

 

[Well_Heeled]

I think we'll rise to the occasion. We level up against the biggest teams, we're at home, and it'll be a fast game with little room for error - all the ingredients for a great tar heels performance

 

[Well_Heeled]

Fantastic start. We are purring. Loving Alvarez on the right to bring out her attacking side. Great spin move from her. Only mistakes have been Nahas wasting both our reviews in first 20 mins

 

[oldwell]

What’s up with the ref lol

Dirty play by Stanford to taunt a fallen player

I hope karma is a *****

 

[unc80]

Fantastic start. We are purring. Loving Alvarez on the right to bring out her attacking side. Great spin move from her. Only mistakes have been Nahas wasting both our reviews in first 20 mins

They were both good challenges.

 

[oldwell]

Feels like the type of game where 1 will win it

 

[Well_Heeled]

Stanford are incredibly good. Best opposition we've faced imo. But we've been clearly better. Just the response we need to the wake loss.

We tried Munson on right and Blum on left for a moment when Denigan came on. But they broke down our left and soon after Munson was back on that side. Seems to me that Nahas prefers her over Blum on the side for what Munson offers on defense.

 

[Chris13x]

What’s up with the ref lol

Dirty play by Stanford to taunt a fallen player

I hope karma is a *****

Also it looked like 7 for Stanford and Bella got into it at the end of the first half

 

[Anon182318]

Does Stanford have players out for U-17?

Stanford is not so open to players coming a year early in general and also missing a lot of their first season to a U17 world cup. Some past ynt players were considering Stanford then went to other schools because Ratcliffe was not encouraging of this.

 

[Anon182318]

If you look at the U17 roster, there are players committed to Stanford though. Ratcliffe just doesn't want them coming early.

 

[bradarb08]

Heels win 1-0 on a Devey goal on a great assist by Stratton in the 70th!

 

[TommyAshley]

Heels win 1-0 on a Devey goal on a great assist by Stratton in the 70th!

Devey goal and the assist from Stratton was clinical tape.

Don’t sleep on Trayer’s game. Stonewalled the Cardinal.

 

[Jriv23]

If you look at the U17 roster, there are players committed to Stanford though. Ratcliffe just doesn't want them coming early.

That is nice to know but that does not count since that will not impact their team this year like it does us and UCLA.

 

[Jriv23]

This is why Stratton and Trayer needs to start moving forward.

Also it looked like 7 for Stanford and Bella got into it at the end of the first half

She spit on Antonucci after she knocked her down.

 

[UNCBullMarket]

What’s up with the ref lol

Dirty play by Stanford to taunt a fallen player

I hope karma is a *****

That wasn’t a taunt, that was her spitting on Antonucci. Sucks we had used up our challenges already, that would have been a red card. Good news that the play can be reviewed by the league and should be a multi-game suspension. Just absolute garbage behavior by that player (Klinger). If Stanford ends up in Cary, I hope I get a chance to boo her every touch.

 

[Jriv23]

This is why both Stratton and Trayer need to start moving forward. Stratton does so much for our team. We saw how she gets back on defense to help so that the other team want have a 1 v 1 situation. She does all the little things to affect the outcome of the game.

 

[oldwell]

Big win

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Trayer played great tonight and had some big saves. I think she’s locked herself back in as the GK1. Also loved what Stratton brought at CB. Shocked that Gaetino didn’t play at all. I’ve been her harshest critic, but she doesn’t deserve that (not playing at all)…and our other outside backs could use a rest at times. Also shocked at how little PT he’s giving Denigan, an All American at Georgia last year. Happy with the job those on the field are doing, but I still think he could use some of the immense talent on our bench a bit more effectively.

I’m still pissed off about that girl spitting and the fact that the only person punished on the play was our coach for complaining (he got a yellow card). The league should maybe consider giving that center ref a leave of absence to contemplate that extreme failure.

 

[Peppersthebeast]

Where does Devey rank in the pantheon of frosh women’s soccer players at UNC?

I realize there is a long way to go in the season but just a fun discussion.

 

[oldwell]

Where does Devey rank in the pantheon of frosh women’s soccer players at UNC?

I realize there is a long way to go in the season but just a fun discussion.

She’s a sophomore

 

[THEericstrattonrushchairman]

Another fine showing by our student athletes.
and I was there, we had a great look at BDs goal.

 

[3397char]

Trayer played great tonight and had some big saves. I think she’s locked herself back in as the GK1. Also loved what Stratton brought at CB. Shocked that Gaetino didn’t play at all. I’ve been her harshest critic, but she doesn’t deserve that (not playing at all)…and our other outside backs could use a rest at times. Also shocked at how little PT he’s giving Denigan, an All American at Georgia last year. Happy with the job those on the field are doing, but I still think he could use some of the immense talent on our bench a bit more effectively.

I’m still pissed off about that girl spitting and the fact that the only person punished on the play was our coach for complaining (he got a yellow card). The league should maybe consider giving that center ref a leave of absence to contemplate that extreme failure.

The spitting incident was away from the ball; easy to miss. If anything the sideline ref should have maybe caught it.

I’m not saying the game was reffed well; it wasn’t. But I’m not faulting a ref for what they don’t see unless they are out of position or looking away from the obvious epicenter of action.

 

[Peppersthebeast]

She’s a sophomore

Wow I’ve had her pinged as a first year in my head this entire year! Quite a breakout season regardless.

 

[UNCDNA]

I’d like to report that our 7yo granddaughter had a blast at her first Carolina soccer match. Her first words after arriving were “Wow, that’s a big field”.
She was amazed by the ball skills of all of the players and is determined to be on that very field as a player and in 10 years.

Great game and a great win!

 

[UltimateHeel]

You could see how Devey has been progressing in the TST over the summer so I expected her to be more effective at his year. She’s is aggressive, but under control and more often than not shoots on frame.

Love Pennie’s game, wish she would be more aggressive in attack while still being a passer. Ashley is technical and in control of the ball, sees the field so well and especially in tight spaces where she senses trouble and avoids it.

So glad Damon put Izzy as starting CB! A little more trustworthy, fast and tall, which helps on both ends.

Let’s keep winning!

 

[Well_Heeled]

Other things I like about those players: Devey is almost never offside and Pennie hides what she is going to do until the very moment she receives the ball.

Stratton was a boss yesterday - the sort of fast and strong player who just gives you confidence that attacks will be mopped up. I didn't see yesterday a lot of evidence that she's going to be the full solution to our problems with crosses, offensively and defensively. Yes she's tall but there's more to aerial dominance in the boxes than that. The moments when she did dominate aerially were against long clearances or goal kicks hit vertically down the pitch toward our defence—a different scenario from defending a cross.

 

[UNCBullMarket]

Not really, the US has some many women's sports for females now starting with little league, etc. We are talking about flag football, basketball, lacrosse, gymnastics, track and field, soccer, volleyball, etc., that the talent is being stretch across all of these sports where as North Korea only has one real sport which is soccer where they are putting all of their time, resources, etc. into that one sport. If we did that and did not have all of the other sports for women like North Korea is doing, can you image how much talent we would have just for soccer alone.

Maybe but you realize that in almost every other country in the world that soccer is the main sport too. It’s not like North Korea is the only country almost solely focused on soccer. How is it that places like Spain, England, France, Germany, Brazil, etc. (where soccer is more important than anything) can’t beat them either?

However, if I had to bet, they (NK) handpick their best athletes, and force that team to do nothing but train together 365 days a year, whereas our team and most others are a collection of players who mostly play on club or school teams as their primary thing and only come together and train as a true team for a few weeks a year at most. That difference in chemistry is huge is sport like soccer where nothing is really scripted and the game is 99% free flowing where knowing the tendencies of your teammates is such an advantage. I’m still not sure how they pull this off because it’s not like they have some vibrant pro league full of talent for their girls to play in year round…maybe they are making them play against boys, that certainly would be a method that could work (some talented girls in the US play with boys teams early on if they are good enough, just to accelerate their development if they can handle it). But, I’ll just be frank and say I also wouldn’t be shocked if NK is doping or something nefarious to gain an edge. A closed off hermit regime that has a complete disdain for the entire western world likely has no respect for its rules of fair play. Would be nice to see someone beat them, but they have really been untouchable in recent years. It’s just shocking to me, especially when their senior womens national team isn’t even on the radar as one of the world’s best. I imagine that is going to change soon though. Whatever they are doing is working better than what anyone else is doing.

Since 2024, North Korea's women's youth teams have won three FIFA World Cups across the U-17 and U-20 age groups (and could make that four soon). USA has zero in that period. NK swept all four major Asian and world youth titles in 2024, and produced an undefeated seven-match U-17 world championship campaign in 2025. In 2026, their U-20 team reached the world final without conceding a goal before losing on penalties. Since 2006, they have won a combined 7 world titles at the youth (U-17 & U-20) level. That’s more than twice the second best team (USA, Spain, Germany all have 3 each).

Since 2024, NK has a Win/Loss/Tie record of 48-2-2….by comparison USA is 23-6-3. Not a perfect comparison because strength of opponent matters, but still it’s hard not to be baffled. They are almost unbeatable in a nearly 3 year run, and they are winning the big trophies against the best of the best.