#14/17 Lady Vols Drop NCAA First Round Match To North Carolina, 3-1

Friday, November 14

Knoxville, Tenn.

6 p.m. ET

University of Tennessee

12-4-3, 6-2-2

North Carolina

13-6-0, 6-4-0

North Carolina

Tennessee

#14/17 Lady Vols Drop NCAA First Round Match To North Carolina, 3-1

November 14, 2025 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee soccer took an early 1-0 lead in the first half, but North Carolina responded with three unanswered goals as the third seeded and No. 14/17 ranked Lady Vols fell to the Tar Heels, 3-1, in the first round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday night at Regal Soccer Stadium.

Junior forward Kate Runyon broke the scoreless deadlock in the 27th minute, slotting a shot between the posts from inside the six-yard box for her team-leading sixth goal of the season. The score was assisted by midfielders Dakota Brown and Jenna Stayart with nifty passes through the Tar Heel defense in the run of play.

North Carolina (13-6) responded two minutes later to even it back up, with senior forward Kate Faasse converting her first of two goals on Friday from close range to tie the match at one apiece. The goal was assisted on a cross in from junior forward Olivia Thomas and a pass inside the six from sophomore midfielder Linda Ullmark.

The Tar Heels took the lead in the 36th minute after sophomore defender Caitlin Mara found the back of the net from point-blank range following a UNC free kick. No assist was awarded as the ball found Mara's feet after a Tennessee deflection inside the box.

UNC doubled its advantage in the 58th minute as Faasse notched her brace, slotting one home from inside the six off a pass through from freshman midfielder Bella Devey. North Carolina's three goals scored were the first allowed by Tennessee at home this season in the run of play, as UT entered Friday's match only having surrendered one score on the Regal Stadium pitch from a penalty kick against LSU on Sept. 21.

This marks the end of Tennessee's 2025 soccer season. The Lady Vols finish the campaign with a 12-4-3 record overall, including a 7-1-1 mark on their home field. UT was ranked in the top 25 for the entirety of the season, ascending to No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches poll for the first time in program history on Sept. 9 and spending a majority of the year inside the top 5.