CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Birkel matched a career high with six saves, but a 70th-minute goal from Bella Devey proved to be the difference in a matchup of top 10 teams as No. 2 North Carolina edged No. 7 Stanford 1-0 on Friday night from Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium.
The Cardinal dropped to 9-3-2 overall on the season and 3-3-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. North Carolina improved to 13-2-0 and 6-1-0 in the ACC.
The Tar Heels outshot Stanford 7-2 in the first half, but Birkel made four saves in the opening 45 minutes to keep the match scoreless.
Adjusting at the halftime break, Stanford emerged from the locker room and controlled much of the early minutes in the second half, rattling off five shots in the opening 10 minutes. The Cardinal eventually posted a 10-6 advantage in shots in the second stanza, but was unable to put one past Peyton Trayer in the UNC net. Trayer was credited with a career-best seven saves while recording the shutout.
Friday marked the fourth time this season that Stanford has been shut out.
North Carolina finally broke the stalemate in the 70th minute as Davey received a pass over the top, earned a step on a Stanford defender, and slotted her shot to the far post for her team-leading 16th goal of the season.
The Cardinal will return home next week to conclude the home portion of the regular season beginning with a 7 p.m. match against NC State on Thursday, October 29.Â