CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team fell to eighth-ranked North Carolina in the 2026 season opener by a 4-0 final score.
Alyssa Gluting racked up a career-high seven saves in the first match while
Payton Zaun,
Ashley McMahon, and
Amelie Stewart each registered a shot in the setback. The Stags will complete their opening road trip on Sunday night at UMass Lowell at 6pm.
The Fairfield defense had to withstand a North Carolina offensive barrage that featured 24 shots with 14 coming in the first half.
The Tar Heels notched the first goal of the match in the fourth minute on a long strike off the foot of Hope Munson. Gluting would make four saves in the half highlighted by her first shot diving to her right in the second minute.
North Carolina held possession for most of the half but the defensive line of
Krista Tehan,
Cassidy Clinton,
Brooke Walonis, and
Brooke Kennedy kept the Stags within striking distance with several stops in the first half.
The Stags trailed 2-0 going into the second half and nearly cut that deficit in half as McMahon launched a clean shot towards the upper right part of the net but the attempt just went wide.
UNC would tally two more scores both coming from Bella Devey in the 56th and 63rd minutes.
Fairfield had one more chance to break the clean sheet in the 72nd minute when
Ella Pisani tapped the ball in between the legs of a Tar Heels defender, setting up a chance for Stewart. Her shot went towards the left side of the net, but UNC's goalkeeper Peyton Trayer was up for the challenge with a diving stop.
Gluting would set a personal-best with seven saves in 78 minutes of action, completing her night with a point-blank save late in the match.
The Stags will continue their season-opening road trip at UMass Lowell on Sunday night at 6pm.
