North Carolina’s women’s soccer squad has surged into the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 at No. 7, a climb sparked by a pair of convincing early‑season wins that have left opponents scrambling to keep pace.
At the heart of the surge is sophomore forward Bella Devey, who was crowned ACC Offensive Player of the Week after delivering a brace in a 4–0 triumph over Fairfield and a hat‑trick in an 8–0 drubbing of Quinnipiac. Her five goals across those matches not only double her tally from a year ago but also account for ten points, positioning her as the team’s leading scorer.
ACC Powerhouses Consolidate Top Spots
Eight Atlantic Coast Conference programs now sit inside the Top 25, a testament to the league’s depth. Traditional contenders such as Stanford, Florida State, Wake Forest, Virginia and Clemson remain entrenched, with Florida State edging up a spot and Clemson inching higher, while Duke ascended to No. 2 following a 3–1 victory over Southern Cal.
The early‑season shuffle also reshapes perceptions of the Irish women’s soccer team, who fell from a preseason No. 2 ranking to No. 8 after two draws, and the Bruins, who dropped from No. 9 to No. 20 after a 2–1 home loss to BYU and a 1–1 stalemate with Duke.
As the schedule tightens, the Tar Heels will look to sustain momentum against a gauntlet of ranked opponents, hoping their hot start translates into a deep run toward the championship conversation.