GoHeels Exclusive: Elinsky's Career Day Lifts Tar Heels

by Pat James

CARY, N.C. – In the North Carolina women's soccer team's locker room Saturday, moments before it faced High Point in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Anson Dorrance preached a common theme.

Each year, Dorrance's focus shifts toward his seniors at this point in the season. And much like other coaches in the country, he encourages his players do the same.

But as one of six seniors playing in their final season with the Tar Heels, Abby Elinsky said she's motivated by much more than extending her college career.

"I'm a senior, but it doesn't really even feel like that," Elinsky said. "In this tournament, everybody is kind of playing for their seniors; it's one-and-done. I think we have such potential for our team, and I would hate to see it go to waste."

And in a 3-0 win over High Point at WakeMed Soccer Park, she ensured that didn't happen.

Elinsky scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the sixth minute. She also tallied two assists and continued her strong defensive play in a midfield position, helping UNC improve to 20-0 all time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Her versatility has allowed her to start at forward during UNC's run to the 2016 NCAA College Cup and play both wing midfield and holding midfielder as well as outside back as Carolina has utilized both 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 formations this season.

The four total points marked a career high for Elinsky, who transferred from Illinois after her freshman season and has steadily become one of the Tar Heels' most consistent players.

"She's a warrior; she's just absolutely fearless," Dorrance said. "She's our best and most aggressive header, and she's our best and most aggressive tackler. Her competitive fire is extraordinary. For her to transfer in here and have the impact she's had is just wonderful."

UNC entered Saturday averaging 15.5 shots. But over their previous two games, wins over N.C. State and Duke en route to their 21st ACC Championship, the Tar Heels had tallied 20 and only seven on goal.

Thus, Elinsky said the team looked to create more chances against the Panthers.

That proved to be the case within the first five minutes, when UNC registered one shot and three corner kicks. On the last of those, Megan Buckingham pounced on the attempted clearance by a High Point defender and passed the ball from the left side to Elinsky near the top of the box.

Elinsky promptly fired a shot on her first touch.

"We've been working on our tempo," she said, "so kind of just getting a first touch and then setting yourself up quickly to get a shot off or a pass off. I just saw a look at the goal and took it."

And she buried the ball in the upper right 90. The goal, which came at the 5:33 mark, was her second of the season. The other came in a 4-0 victory at Virginia Tech on October 19.

Over the Tar Heels' previous four games, they had scored only one of their five goals in the first half. That, Elinsky said, can be dangerous in single-elimination games, where early goals and the chance to pad your lead become even more important.

Because of Elinsky, UNC had nearly 85 minutes to do that Saturday.

"We want to score early, especially against a team like High Point where they have five in the back and they're definitely packing it in," junior defender Julia Ashley said. "Her (Abby) setting the tone there made everyone want to continue that, for sure. We didn't want to become complacent."

And Elinsky wouldn't let them be.

In the 39th minute, High Point goalkeeper Alex Hank looked to cut off a low pass across the penalty box by Kate Morris from the right side of the box. But the ball eluded Hank's fingertips and bounced toward Elinsky, who set up Ashley for a goal with a pass off the heel of her left foot.

The Tar Heels maintained their 2-0 lead for 30 more minutes. Then in the 69th minute, Elinsky notched her second assist when she headed a Madison Schultz cross from far post to near post where Morgan Goff finished for a goal on the doorstep.

On defense, Elinsky helped lead UNC to its 12th shutout in 20 games this season. The Panthers recorded zero shots, marking the first time the Tar Heels didn't allow a shot since a 1-0 win over Syracuse on October 17, 2013.

With the win, Elinsky and UNC advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they'll face either Colorado or Denver at either 5 p.m. Friday at WakeMed Soccer Park. Maybe four more games will follow. But after that?

"I'm hoping a pro franchise out there in this country looks at her and says, 'I want that fighter playing for us,'" said Dorrance of Elinsky. "Because she is a fighter, and she's had an incredible career here. I'm incredibly proud of her, especially for not just her defensive presence – which I would compliment her about in every game she plays in – but her offensive impact today."

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Julia Ashley

Megan Buckingham

Abby Elinsky

Morgan Goff

Kate Morris

Madison Schultz

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