The North Carolina Tar Heels are absolutely crushing everyone in their path. It’s only two games into the 2026 season, yet the scoreline is already terrifying for opponents. The team has outscored their first two foes by a combined 12-0. That is a statement.
Early dominance in Chapel Hill
The season kicked off last Thursday against Fairfield. The Tar Heels took control almost immediately. Per Tar Heel Blog (SBN UNC), Hope Munson found the back of the net just over four minutes into that match. She even added another goal later in the first half. Bella Devey helped secure the 4-0 win by scoring twice during the second half. It was a clean sheet and a perfect way to start the year.
Then Sunday brought even more chaos to Chapel Hill. When Quinnipiac visited, the scoring went through the roof. Devey and Munson combined for four goals between them. In fact, Devey put up a hat trick during that game. The scoring was so fast that Devey, Munson, and others put up four goals in just the first 15 minutes. Summer Denigan also contributed two goals in the second half of that 8-0 blowout.
Rising in the national polls
The talent on this roster is clearly visible on the scoreboard. According to the United Soccer Coaches poll, UNC began this season ranked eighth in the country. They have already climbed one spot in the most recent Tuesday poll. You cannot ignore a team that refuses to let the ball enter their net.
Individual honors are already flowing to the Tar Heels. Devey earned the title of ACC Offensive Player of the Week because she scored five goals across these two matches. When players perform like this against even decent competition, you have to pay attention.
Big tests are coming soon
The schedule is about to get much harder. The easy wins are over. The team must travel to face Arkansas, a squad that the USC poll ranked at number 10 during the preseason. After that, they face Michigan State, who held the number 7 spot in the preseason rankings. These are the real matchups that will decide if this 12-0 goal differential is just a fluke or a sign of a championship run.
