Terps must face talented Tar Heels again

North Carolina's women's soccer team is loaded.

The Tar Heels returned 2008 National Player of the Year Casey Nogueira and seven other starters from last season's National Championship team. To begin this year, they demolished No. 3 UCLA 7-2, one of only two losses for the Bruins this season.

Sunday, the Tar Heels got off 22 shots against the Terps but were only able to score one early goal. It was enough to leave Ludwig Field with a win in the final regular season game of the year.

After the game, the Terps were ready to move on from two consecutive losses and make a splash in this week's ACC Tournament — until they found out who their first-round opponent is.

Tomorrow, for the second time in four days, the Terps will face the Tar Heels, the dominant program of women's college soccer and winner of 19 ACC championships.

But Terp coach Brian Pensky and his team welcome the challenge.

"They are an amazing group of athletes and soccer players," Pensky said. "Our challenge is immense, and we know that. Our kids are excited about it and are ready to take them on."

Since Boston College defeated Wake Forest in double overtime Sunday, the Tar Heels were bumped down to the No. 3 seed, meaning they will face the No. 6 seed Terps in the first round of the ACC Tournament.

A Terp win against North Carolina isn't out of the question. After all, the Terps have already knocked off perennial powerhouse Santa Clara, won every nonconference match and won more ACC games than any Terp women's soccer team in a decade.

But a win against the Tar Heels would be program-altering, as the Terps have yet to win in 29 matches against North Carolina.

"They are the gold standard of the ACC, and we want to win a championship," Pensky said. "At some point we knew we would have to get through Carolina, and it doesn't matter when we play them."

Pensky said he would rather play the Tar Heels than No. 1 seed Florida State or No. 2 seed Boston College because the Terps have Sunday's match fresh in their minds and want redemption.

The Terps will need to improve on offense if they want any chance against the Tar Heels. North Carolina allowed only four shots on goal Sunday and had control of possession most of the game.

"I know we needed to play more diagonal balls and get it behind their backline," defender Megan Watson said. "They like to get pressure up the field."

The Terps used Sunday's match as a tune-up for the real test tomorrow. Pensky plans on exploiting the tendencies he saw, just as North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance will likely do.

For a team that has made immense strides this season, a win against the Tar Heels tomorrow would be the ultimate statement that the Terps are back. After all, North Carolina has never lost in the ACC tournament's first or second round.

"Personally, I think it's hard to beat a team twice in a row," Watson said. "Everyone is beatable, even North Carolina, since it's just a game."

eckard@umdbk.com