June 6, 2007

CANBERRA & BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - Despite compiling a record of only 1-2 on its recent exhibition tour of Australia and New Zealand, the 2007 University of North Carolina women's soccer team gained tremendous experience against international competition. The Tar Heel contingent included coaching staff, trainers, student managers and administrative staff and a roster of 18 players. The experience the Tar Heels gained on the trip should bear fruit during the 2007 season as Coach Anson Dorrance returns a team that won the national championship in 2006 but lost only four seniors to graduation.

Carolina's roster included junior midfielder Yael Averbuch, sophomore midfielder Tobin Heath, sophomore defender Kristi Eveland, junior forward/defender Mandy Moraca, sophomore forward Casey Nogueira, sophomore midfielder Melissa Hayes (who is transferring to Penn State this coming fall), sophomore forward Sterling Smith, sophomore forward Whitney Engen, sophomore midfielder Nikki Washington, junior goalkeeper Anna Rodenbough, senior forward Jaime Gilbert, sophomore midfielder Betsy Frederick, sophomore goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, senior midfielder Julie Yates, sophomore forward Caroline Boneparth and 2006 senior midfielder Jennifer Perkins. Sophomore midfielder Ali Hawkins was on the trip as well but was unable to play because she recently suffered ACL and MCL tears in a knee while playing for the U.S. Under 21 National Team overseas. Hawkins will be unable to play in 2007 but will still have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2008.

Here are the statistical summaries of the three games:

UNC vs. Australian National Team
May 21, 2007, 11 a.m.
Sunny and 55 degrees
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Shots: AUS 7+11=18, UNC 6+4=10
Corner Kicks: AUS 1+1=2, UNC 0+3=3
Fouls: AUS 4+2=6, UNC 6+1=7
Offside: AUS 2+1=3, UNC 0+0=0
Goalkeeper Saves: Anna Rodenbough (UNC) 3, Ashlyn Harris (UNC) 3, Australia 5

Goals Scored:
AUS--2:00, Hard shot blocked by Rodenbough but parried and tapped in by follow up striker
UNC--8:00, Averbuch sticks PK after Heath is taken down in the box
AUS--70:00, Player streaking down right side one times a cross with her right foot into the far upper 90 from 16
AUS--75:00, A streaking forward breaks away and goes 1v1 with keeper, beats here and shoots ball into open net from 12

UNC Starters and Minutes Played: Averbuch (90), Heath (90), Eveland (90), Moraca (90), Nogueira (85), Hayes (80), Smith (70), Engen (70), Washington (55), Rodenbough (45), Gilbert (34)
UNC Subs and Minutes Played: Frederick (75), Ash. Harris (45), Yates (45), Boneparth (35), Perkins (3)
UNC Shots: Averbuch 4, Heath 1, Nogueira 1, Hayes 1, Smith 1, Gilbert 2