CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Aleigh Gambone scored in the first half, Avery Patterson and defender Tori Hansen added second half scores, and No. 10 North Carolina defeated No. 11 Tennessee 3-0 in the season opener for both teams at Dorrance Field on Thursday.
The triumph was Carolina's eighth consecutive season and home opening victory as it improved to 37-5-2 in its first game of the season and 39-2-3 in home openers.
"This was a signature win," UNC head coach Anson Dorrance said. "That's the sort of win that helps you get a high seed in the NCAA Tournament because [Tennessee] is an excellent team, and they're going to beat some very good teams.