GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's soccer team continues its non-conference schedule with a battle against in-state foe No. 22 North Carolina on Thursday on Dorrance Field at 4:00 p.m. and then hosts The University of South Florida (USF) on Sunday at UNCG Soccer Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
 

 
SERIES HISTORY VS NORTH CAROLINA
The Spartans and Tar Heels have faced off 12 times in program history with North Carolina winning each game. The two teams last faced off in 2011, where the Tar Heels won, 2-0, in Greensboro.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS SOUTH FLORIDA
This will be the first battle between the two teams.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
UNCG fell to Colorado in the two team's second battle in program history. The Buffs claimed an 8-0 victory in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans concluded the 2024 season 5-9-5 overall and 3-3-3 in The Southern Conference (SoCon).
• UNCG defeated The Citadel, 3-0, in the first round of the 2024 SoCon Tournament but fell to second-seeded Samford, 2-1, in the SoCon Quarterfinal round to conclude the season.
• The Spartans began the 2025 season with three exhibitions, two at home with Virginia Tech and James Madison and one away at UNC Asheville.
• The Spartans were voted to finish sixth in the 2025 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 45 points.
• Redshirt senior midfielder Rachel Poplin was named to the 2025 SoCon Preason All-Conference Team, the league announced Monday.
• Poplin has started and played in all 19 games the past two seasons for the Blue & Gold with a career total of 3,238 minutes. She notched two goals for four points during the 2024 campaign.
• Emma Malone returns as the leading goalkeeper after notching 61 saves with a 1.14 GAA last season.
• Taylor Mentzer is the returning leading scorer for the Spartans after the senior recorded five goals last season.
• Merle Greulich follows closely behind as the returning leading scorer with four goals last season and was recognized as the 2024 SoCon Freshman of the Year. 
• Ava Kiss returns after leading the team with three assists last season and posting three goals as well.

SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA

• North Carolina won its 23^rd National Championship last season after an impressive 22-5 overall record and 7-3 in the ACC.
• The Tar Heels were voted first with 10 first-place votes in the 2025 Preseason ACC Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll.
• Four from the squad were named to the 2025 Preseason All-ACC Team, including Tessa Dellarose, Kate Faasse, Olivia Thomas and Linda Ullmark.
• Dellarose and Faasse are on the Hermann Trophy Watchlist, while Faasse was named to the United Soccer Coaches Forwards Watchlist.
• The Tar Heels are currently 2-2 overall, earning shutouts over Siena, 5-0, and Rice, 4-0.
• North Carolina was voted No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, but are currently No. 22 and No. 8 in the Atlantic Region.
• Eres Freifeld, Thomas and Ullmark all have scored two goals apiece so far to lead the team with four points each.
• Liya Brooks has played the most minutes in net, starting and playing in three games, giving up four goals against for a 1.60 goals against average and seven saves.

SCOUTING SOUTH FLORIDA

• During the 2024 season, South Florida finished 12-2-5 overall and 6-1-3 in the American.
• Head Coach Chris Brown enters his second season as USF head coach after being elevated from associate head coach for 17 years.  
• USF was voted to finish second with four first-place votes in the 2025 American Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Gentiana Fetaj, Leire Herraez Gallach and Sadie Sider-Echenberg landed on the 2025 American Preseason Watch List.
• Fetaj was named to the United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch List.
• South Florida will be facing off against No. 10 Wake Forest before coming to Greensboro on Sunday.
• The Bulls defeated SoCon rival, Furman, 1-0, in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 14 to open their season.

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will host Triad rival, High Point on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 6:00 p.m. at UNCG Soccer Stadium before traveling to Charlotte on Sunday, Sept. 7 for a 6:00 p.m. game at Transamerica Field.