And Friday night came full circle as No. 4 North Carolina State defeated No. 19 Virginia 3-2 at Dorrance Field. Not only did the first-year midfielder score his first career goal, he also recorded his first two goals and his first career game-winner. Ullmark became the first Tar Heel to score five points in a game this season. Her breakthrough performance led the University of North Carolina to an important hard-fought victory over a tough conference opponent.
UNC freshman midfielder Linda Ullmark, 7, chases the ball during a women’s soccer game against Virginia on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Dorrance Field. UNC won 3-2.
For Ullmark, practice doesn’t end when practice ends. She stays behind to take additional shots.
This season, the freshman started every game. She has never played more than 66 minutes in a game and has played the full 90 minutes five times. Through the first 11 games of the season, Ullmark had 36 shots and three assists.
However, no goal was scored.
Nahas said Ullmark was soft-spoken. During our first interaction in Florida, he did most of the talking. There were many silent voices.
But Nahas knows she’s found a special player, a special person, and now her teammates believe it too. They continued to encourage her even though her first career goal was long overdue.
“I could tell she worked hard to get through this past year,” Nahas said. “She was trying and trying. It just didn’t come. You knew that was the moment she needed.”
UNC led Virginia 1-0 at the 30-minute mark. Junior forwards Kate Firth and Maddie Darian combined on the left side. Darien fired a low ball into the front of the goal. The ball was a little behind her, but Ullmark was there. She took the ball with her left foot and fired it past the Cavaliers’ goalie and into the bottom corner of the goal.
Finally.
“I told her it was coming soon,” Darian said.
UNC led Virginia 2-1 in the 38th minute. Ullmark played a perfect through ball to Faase. Fass did the rest. It was Ullmark’s fourth assist this year.
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In the 74th minute, with the match still at two points, Ullmark broke through on the left side. She got in front of the defender, cut inside with her right foot and curled a perfect shot into the top corner. The entire Virginia team stood in a circle on the edge of the penalty area, stunned.
“It’s something I’ve practiced a lot,” Ullmark said.
Destiny was fulfilled.
After the match, Ullmark and Nahas hugged.
Nahas is glad he made the decision to stay on for the final game.
@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com
