CARY — Two-seed UNC women’s soccer (17-2, 9-1 ACC) defeated 5-seed Virginia (10-3-5, 4-3-4 ACC), 2-0, in a Sunday matinee at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary in the ACC Championship final match.
The storied UNC program looked to secure its 23rd ACC Championship and first since 2019 when the team also beat Virginia.
The Tar Heels wasted no time as first-year forward Amari Manning received a ball on the left wing. She took on her defender and slotted it through an impossible angle on the UVA goalkeeper’s near post in the third minute to give UNC a quick 1-0 lead.
Sixteen minutes later, first-year midfielder Scottie Antonucci stole the ball away from a Cavalier midfielder high up the pitch and found the ACC Offensive Player of the Year, sophomore forward Bella Devey, wide open in the box. She took a touch and calmly found the right corner for her 18th goal of the season.
Virginia had their first chance in the 30th minute with a free kick from just outside the box. First-year goalkeeper Peyton Trayer claimed it to keep the Tar Heels up 2-0.
First-year defender and ACC Freshman of the Year Cali O’Neill was banged up and headed to the locker room. Without her services, UNC’s defense still held strong in the second half to become 2026 ACC Women’s Soccer champions.
North Carolina will be back in action for the NCAA tournament, likely as one of four 1-seeds.
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